For Immediate Release
January 3, 2024
CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS BOOK TALK WITH AUTHOR OF FRENCH SCULPTURE: AN AMERICAN PASSION
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Tuesday, February 6 at 5:30 pm, the Clark Art Institute presents a book talk by noted art historian Laure de Margerie about her new book French Sculpture: An American Passion. The book is based on de Margerie’s research as the founding director of the French Sculpture Census, the first comprehensive catalogue of French sculpture (1500–1960) in American public collections. This free event takes place in the Clark’s auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.
French Sculpture: An American Passion unveils the story of the American taste for French sculpture and of the collectors, dealers, decorators, and curators who championed these works. De Margerie considers the role and meaning of French sculpture in America's ever-changing society, ranging from public monuments with their sometimes-controversial symbolism to the stories of the French women and men who shaped the American artistic landscape.
The book details the fascinating saga of American interest in French sculpture, ranging from 1792 when celebrated French artist Jean-Antoine Houdon first sculpted George Washington’s likeness, to the monumental gift of the Statue of Liberty nearly 100 years later, through to the 1900s when artists like Auguste Rodin, Constantin Brancusi, and Marcel Duchamp were championed by U.S. museums.
De Margerie was head of the Sculpture Archives at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris from 1978 through 2009. During her tenure, she was part of the team that installed the Orsay’s sculpture collection for the museum’s 1986 opening, co-authored the Musée d’Orsay’s collection catalogue, and curated numerous exhibitions.
A 5 pm reception in the Manton Research Center reading room precedes the event. Copies of French Sculpture: An American Passion will be available for purchase at the talk and in the Museum Store.
Free; advance registration required at clarkart.edu/events. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524. Admission to the Clark is free through March 2024.
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 some 300,000 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. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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