Archives Scrapbooks

The image depicts a page from a newspaper or a magazine, dated December 29, 1928, from the publication "Boston American." The page is titled "As a Detector of Art 'Fakes'" and discusses the use of Harvard's X-ray equipment in examining artwork, specifically to determine its authenticity. It mentions a famous work of art, "Portrait of a Lady" by Badile, being used to test the Harvard X-ray machine's ability to detect retouching or forgeries in paintings.

The article highlights a method where X-rays are projected through the canvas of the painting to reveal any retouching that may have been done. The accompanying photographs show a portrait of a woman and what appears to be an X-ray machine being used on a painting. The page also includes a smaller text box with additional information about the examination process and the use of Roentgen rays (X-rays) in art analysis.

Below this section, there is an article titled "Boston Art News," dated December 22, 1928, which provides a report on the exhibitions of drawings by various artists, including Delacroix, Courbet, and George Bellows, at the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University. The text describes the sketches on display, noting their significance and the artists' influences on each other's work. The page is aged, with yellowed paper and some wear, indicating it is from an older publication.

This image is a photograph of an old newspaper clipping from the Boston American dated December 29, 1928. The headline reads "As a Detector of Art 'Fakes' Harvard's X-Ray." The article discusses the use of an X-ray machine to examine famous works of art for authenticity at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum.

The clipping includes two main photographs:

1. On the left, there is a close-up image of a portrait titled "Portrait of a Lady" by Badile, which was used in the X-ray test.
2. On the right, there is a photograph showing two men, Charles Durham and Fulton Lesser, using the X-ray apparatus to examine the portrait. The image also includes a diagram explaining how the X-rays are projected through the canvas to reveal where the portrait has been retouched.

The article mentions that the X-ray machine can prove the authenticity of treasures in the museum's collection and that science, through a mechanical eye, can be more clever than the human eye. The clipping also includes additional text about original drawings by masters from various countries and times on display in the museum, listing artists such as Delacroix, Courbet, Houdon, Tiepolo, and many others.

This image displays a single page from a scrapbook, featuring a newspaper clipping from the Boston American, dated December 29, 1925. The clipping is from the “Art News” section and is titled:

“As a Detector of Art ‘Fakes’ — Harvard’s X-Ray”

The article discusses the use of scientific technology — specifically, the Harvard X-ray machine — to authenticate famous artworks housed in the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University.

Key elements of the clipping:

• Main Headline & Subhead: “As a Detector of Art ‘Fakes’” and “Harvard’s X-Ray,” emphasizing the machine’s role in exposing forgeries or alterations.
• Photographs:
  • Left: A portrait of a woman, identified in the caption as “Portrait of a Lady,” by Badile. The caption states this work was used as a test subject.
  • Right: A scene in a museum or lab with three men examining a canvas or device. One man, possibly an art expert or scientist, holds the painting while another, perhaps a student (named in text as Fulton Lesser), operates equipment. A large, ghostly image of the woman’s face appears superimposed, visually representing the X-ray image.
  • Inset Diagram: A smaller drawing labeled “X-RAY PROJECTED THROUGH CANVAS REVEALS WHERE PORTRAIT HAS BEEN RETOUCHE.” It illustrates the technical process of X-raying a painting to reveal underlying layers or retouching.
• Captions:
  • Left caption: “FAMOUS WORK OF ART USED IN TEST” — identifies the painting and its role in proving the machine can distinguish genuine masterpieces from fakes.
  • Right caption: “TEACHERS AND STUDENTS USE MECHANICAL EYE” — names the individuals involved (Charles Durham, art expert; Fulton Lesser, student; Alan Burrell, Charles Alfrey, student) and explains how differences between ancient and modern layers are revealed using X-rays.
• Body Text: The article details how the X-ray machine acts as a “mechanical eye,” proving more “clever than human eye” in detecting retouching or alterations to old canvases.

Below the main article, another shorter piece titled “BOSTON Art News Dec. 22, '25” (note: the date here appears to be misprinted as Dec. 22, 1925, while the newspaper’s main date is Dec. 29, 1925) discusses the acquisition of original drawings by masters such as Delacroix, Courbet, Ingres, Degas, Renoir, Da Vinci, and others, now on view at the Fogg Art Museum.

The clipping shows some signs of age — yellowing paper, slight creases — and is mounted in what appears to be a dark, cloth-covered scrapbook with visible binding on the left edge. The page is well-preserved and legible.

Overall Description:
This historical newspaper clipping from 1925 documents an early and innovative use of X-ray technology in art conservation and authentication at Harvard’s Fogg Art Museum. It highlights how science was beginning to aid art historians in distinguishing original works from forgeries or later alterations, using a portrait by Badile as a case study. The accompanying photographs and diagram visually illustrate the collaborative effort between experts, students, and technology.

The image is a vintage newspaper clipping featuring an article titled "As a Detector of Art Fakes" from the Boston American, dated December 29, 1928. The article discusses the use of X-ray technology at Harvard University to detect art forgeries. The clipping includes a photograph of a portrait of a lady, labeled as a "famous work of art" by Barde, used for testing the X-ray machine's capabilities. The article explains how the X-ray machine can reveal hidden details and alterations in paintings, making it more effective than the human eye in detecting fakes. It also mentions the use of mechanical drawing by teachers and students to compare ancient and modern artworks, highlighting the importance of technology in art authentication.

The image shows a page from a newspaper or magazine, likely from the early 20th century. The headline reads "As a Detector of Art 'Fakes'" and "Harvard's X-Ray," indicating the article is about using X-ray technology to detect art forgeries.

The page features two photographs. The left photo shows a woman with short hair, wearing a dress, and a serious expression. The right photo shows a man in a suit and tie, standing in front of a painting, with another man in a suit and tie standing next to him, pointing at the painting.

The article text discusses the use of X-ray technology by Harvard University to examine artworks and detect forgeries. It mentions specific artworks and artists, such as Jean Honore Fragonard and Jean-Baptiste Greuze, whose works have been examined using this technology. The article highlights the importance of this technology in authenticating artworks and preserving cultural heritage.

The overall tone of the article is informative and educational, providing insights into the use of scientific methods in the field of art authentication. The inclusion of photographs and specific examples helps to illustrate the concepts discussed in the text.

The image shows an open book or magazine page titled "As a Detector of Art 'Fakes' Harvard's X-Ray Probe" from the Boston American dated December 29, 1935. The page features a detailed article discussing the use of X-ray technology to detect forgeries and authenticate works of art.

Key Elements in the Image:

Left Side:

1. Headline:

   • "FAMOUS WORK OF ART USED IN TEST"
     • The article highlights the use of a famous artwork titled "Portrait of a Lady" by Baddie as a test case for the Harvard X-Ray Machine.
     • The machine is described as capable of examining the treasures in the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, proving more clever than the human eye in detecting forgeries.

2. Photograph:

   • A black-and-white photograph of a woman is prominently displayed.
   • The woman has short, wavy hair and is wearing a dark outfit. Her expression is neutral, and she appears to be the subject of the "Portrait of a Lady" mentioned in the article.

3. Caption and Text:

   • Below the photograph, there is a caption or descriptive text, though it is partially cut off.
   • The text mentions the Fogg Art Museum and discusses the use of X-ray technology to examine artworks.
   • It also references the Harvard X-Ray Machine and its ability to detect forgeries by analyzing the layers and materials of paintings.

Right Side:

1. Photograph:

   • A photograph shows three individuals engaged in an activity related to the X-ray machine.
     • One person appears to be operating or demonstrating the machine, while two others are observing or discussing the results.
     • The setting suggests a laboratory or academic environment.

2. Diagram:

   • Below the photograph, there is a technical diagram illustrating the X-ray projection process.
     • The diagram shows how X-rays are directed through an object (in this case, a painting) and captured on a film or plate.
     • Labels and arrows indicate the path of the X-rays and the resulting image.

3. Caption and Text:

   • The text on the right side discusses the use of the X-ray machine by teachers and students, including names such as Charles Durham, Fulton Lesser, and Alan Barr.
   • It mentions the examination of paintings to detect retouching, alterations, or forgeries.
   • The article emphasizes the machine's ability to reveal hidden layers, alterations, and the original condition of artworks.

Additional Details:

• The page includes a small illustration or diagram labeled "X-RAY PROJECTED THROUGH PAINTING ON FILM WHERE DETAILS WERE OBTAINED", which visually explains the process of X-ray analysis.
• The article references various artworks and artists, such as George Bellows, Ingres, Renoir, and others, indicating the broad scope of the technology's application.
• The overall tone of the article is informative, highlighting the innovative use of science (X-ray technology) in the field of art authentication and conservation.

Summary:

The image depicts a page from a 1935 newspaper or magazine article that explores the use of Harvard's X-ray machine to detect art forgeries. It combines photographs of a famous artwork ("Portrait of a Lady"), individuals using the technology, and a technical diagram to illustrate how X-ray analysis can reveal hidden layers and alterations in paintings. The article emphasizes the machine's effectiveness in authenticating art and its application in academic and professional settings.

This image shows an aged newspaper clipping with a header reading "As a Detector of Art 'Fakes' Harvard's X-Ray Plan". The article is from the "Boston American" dated "Dec. 29, '35," which suggests it was published in 1935. It appears to be discussing the use of X-ray technology in the detection of art forgeries, perhaps highlighting its effectiveness as compared to the human eye.

The article contains two sections with headers that read "FAMOUS WORK OF ART USED IN TEST" and "TEACHERS AND STUDENTS USE METHOD." The first section talks about a portrait by Jadis and discusses how it is used in an examination of treasures at the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University. It mentions that this technique is more accurate than the human eye for identifying art forgeries.

The second section seems to address the practical application of the technique and is possibly discussing how students and teachers at Harvard University are using X-ray analysis to detect art forgeries and understand the composition of works of art.

The visual focus is a series of images and text, unfortunately, some sections, including figures in the photographs, are obscured. However, various artists and historical figures are mentioned in the article, indicating a discussion about the provenance and authenticity of classical artworks through the ages.

The newspaper clipping is affixed to the pages of a larger bound album or scrapbook, visible on the left edge, suggesting that it may be part of a collection of articles or a personal archive of related materials. The yellowing paper and the historical context provided in the article give a sense of the era in which the method was being explored and the importance of the advent of technological aids in the field of art conservation and history.

• The image shows an open scrapbook or album page filled with old newspaper clippings arranged like a collage.
• The top headline reads something like “As a Detective of Art ‘Fakes’ Harvard’s X-Ray …” with a small handwritten note “Boston American” near the top left and a date on the right that looks like Dec. 29, 28.
• There are several black-and-white photos clipped to the page: a large portrait image on the left with the face blurred, and to the right a scene of people standing and possibly a display or machine, plus a small diagram or illustration of an X-ray related setup.
• The bottom half contains dense text columns with captions such as “FAMOUS WORK OF ART USED IN TEST,” discussing the Harvard X-ray machine and its use in authenticating artworks.
• The overall look is aged, with yellowed, brittle paper and a dark binding along the left edge. The images and text give a historical, archival feel about art forgery detection using X-ray technology.

The image shows a scrapbook or a scrapbook page featuring newspaper clippings and articles related to art and art detection. The top of the page has a partially visible headline that includes the words "As a Detector of Art 'Fakes'" and mentions "Harvard's X-Ray."

There are two main newspaper clippings photos:

1. On the left, there is a black and white image of a portrait titled "Portrait of a Lady," alongside text explaining the use of an X-ray machine to examine powers of the Harvard X-ray machine at the Fogg Art Museum. The text describes how the X-ray machine detects genuine masterpieces versus mechanical reproductions, noticing the difference between human and mechanical eyes.
2. On the right side, there is a photo of three people, two of whom seem to be men standing and pointing at something (one wears a lab coat), which is related to the use of X-ray technology for art examination. There is also a small illustration labeled "X-Ray Projected Through Canvas" showing the mechanics of the X-ray examination on a painting.

Below these images is a newspaper article titled "Original drawings by masters of many countries and times are now on view..." from the Boston Post News, dated Dec. 22, 1928. The article discusses various artists, drawings, and exhibits at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, mentioning several notable artists and styles.

The page has a handwritten note at the top noting "Boston American" and the date "Dec. 29, '28."

This image is a scanned newspaper clipping mounted in a scrapbook. The clipping is from the "Boston American" newspaper, dated December 29, 1928. It has the title "As a Detector of Art ‘Fakes’—Harvard’s X-Ray Process." The page discusses how Harvard University used X-ray technology to detect authenticity in art pieces, particularly targeting potential forgeries.

In the image:

1. Top Section:

   • On the left is a photograph of a painting labeled "Portrait of a Lady," which was tested using X-rays for the article.
   • On the right are two people (faces blurred) operating a machine, likely an X-ray device. The caption describes the effort to analyze the inner compositions of paintings.

2. Bottom Section:

   • Below the photographs, there is a printed article detailing the concept of using X-rays to verify artwork's authenticity. It explains how X-rays can reveal hidden layers, retouches, and characteristics of the original or altered paintings.
   • It references collections at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum and mentions famous artists.

This content highlights the early efforts of using science to assess fine art authenticity and combat art forgery.