CLARK ART INSTITUTE’S ‘LOOKING AND LUNCHING’ PROGRAM OFFERS CLOSE LOOK AT ICONIC AMERICAN PORTRAIT

January 2, 2019

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute holds its popular “Looking and Lunching” program on Thursday, January 17 at 12 pm with “The Itinerant American,” a close-up look at American artist Ammi Phillips’s Portrait of Harriet Campbell (c. 1815). Horace Ballard, assistant curator at the Williams College Museum of Art, leads the discussion in the galleries with an exploration of the style and trope in the composition of the portrait, offering insight into the lifestyle of the itinerant painter and nineteenth-century American art economy.

Harriet Campbell was seven years old when the portrait was painted, though her formal costume makes her appear older. Phillips was a successful itinerant artist, working in small towns along the borders of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Unlike other early American painters, he was not trained in the European traditions of portraiture. Largely self-taught, he focused on capturing convincing likenesses and creating decorative color arrangements, often reusing poses and clothing. Portrait of Harriet Campbell was given to the Clark in 1991 by Oliver Eldridge in memory of Sarah Fairchild Anderson, a teacher of art in the North Adams Public Schools and daughter of Harriet Campbell.

After the gallery talk, participants continue the discussion over lunch with the presenter and fellow art lovers. “Looking and Lunching” is free with gallery admission, but limited space is available. Plan to arrive early to pre-order and purchase your meal or bring your own lunch. Meet at the admissions desk in the Clark Center.

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 270,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm; open daily in July and August. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, children 18 and younger, and students with valid ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; EBT Card to Culture; Bank of America Museums on Us; and Blue Star Museums. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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