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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, January 1928-November 1929

ARCH.2003.24, Rendition: 796264

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The image shows an open page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated December 13, 1927. The article on this page is titled "X-Raying Paintings" and discusses the work of Alan Burroughs, a member of the Fogg Art Museum staff, who has been X-raying early paintings. The article details Burroughs's extensive work in Europe, particularly in Italy, and his use of X-ray technology to examine paintings in various museums and galleries.

Key points from the article include:

  1. Purpose of X-raying Paintings: The X-ray process helps in understanding the styles and methods of different artists by revealing underlying layers of paint. It also aids in identifying the authenticity of paintings and the amount of repainting done.

  2. Initial Work: The first X-ray work was conducted at the Huntington Memorial Hospital using a machine lent by Dr. Preston M. Hickey. Two pictures from the Fogg Museum were X-rayed, as well as a few from individuals and the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

  3. Findings: One painting was found to have been repainted by Pourbus, and another revealed that a painting by Tintoretto was actually a gift from Don Carlos. The X-ray also showed that the head in a painting had been repainted, revealing an older man's head underneath.

  4. Future Plans: The Fogg Art Museum plans to create a collection of X-ray plates for connoisseurs, scholars, and students to study the styles and methods of artists and the amount of repainting on pictures.

Additionally, the page mentions other news from the Fogg Museum, including Langdon Warner's fellowship for research in Asia and his work on Buddhist sculpture, as well as his recent visits to Korea and China. The article also notes the discovery of kiln sites and the acquisition of ancient Chinese artifacts.

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The image displays a page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin dated December 13, 1923. The main article on this page discusses the work of Alan Burroughs, a member of the Fogg Art Museum staff, who recently returned from Europe.

Summary of the Article:

X-Raying Paintings:
Alan Burroughs has been conducting an extensive study of early paintings using X-ray technology. His research started two years prior under the supervision of Edward W. Forbes, Director of the Fogg Art Museum. Burroughs' work has taken him to major art centers in Europe, including the Louvre in Paris and museums in Berlin.

During the past year, Burroughs performed X-ray tests on notable artworks in prominent galleries in London, Cambridge, the Fitzwilliam Gallery, the National Gallery, and museums in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. This research supplements a broader investigation of Flemish and Dutch schools of painting, with a particular focus on the works of French and German artists.

The article highlights that Burroughs has X-rayed over a hundred pictures, including works by Jan van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Van der Weyden. His findings have been made accessible to both connoisseurs and students, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in artworks.

The Fogg Art Museum is pioneering in using scientific methods to authenticate paintings. This initiative began with a grant from the Milton Fund to build an X-ray machine. The machine was designed by Herbert I. Smith and Mr. Burroughs and has been used to examine many paintings, revealing forgeries and uncovering hidden aspects of the artworks.

Key Findings:

  1. X-ray of a Tintoretto Painting: The X-ray revealed that the head of a young man in a turban was originally that of an old man.
  2. Detection of Forgeries: The X-ray tests exposed two forgeries among the Fogg Museum's collection, including a supposedly ancient Greek artifact which was actually a modern piece from England.

Other News of the Fogg Museum:

  • Langdon Warner: The Fogg Art Museum received a grant for Langdon Warner to study Buddhist sculpture in Asia, starting from April 1928.
  • Recent Acquisitions: Sir Percival David donated a pair of rare 18th-century Chinese scrolls featuring pottery and porcelain to the museum.

Excavations:

  • Comana in Cappadocia: The article also mentions the discovery of Greek test stones from the Seleucid period by a French archaeological team, which included remnants of an ancient Iranian site.

This page of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin provides a detailed account of the innovative use of X-ray technology in art authentication and other updates related to the Fogg Art Museum.

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The image shows a page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated December 13, 1928. The page contains an article titled "X-RAYING PAINTINGS" and "OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM."

X-RAYING PAINTINGS:

  • Alan Burroughs, a member of the Fogg Art Museum staff, has returned from Europe after conducting X-ray studies on early paintings.
  • He undertook this work under the supervision of E. W. Forbes, the Director of the Museum.
  • Burroughs traveled to Europe to examine paintings in the Louvre, Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin, and other museums.
  • He conducted X-ray tests on 200 paintings, including works by Van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Giorgione, and Titian.
  • The study aims to provide data on repainting and underdrawings in these paintings, contributing to the understanding of their original state.
  • The project was funded by the Huntington Memorial Hospital and the Milton Fund.
  • The X-ray photographs have revealed interesting details, such as repainting and changes in composition, which are now on display for visitors to compare with the visible surface of the paintings.

OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM:

  • Langdon Warner, a Fellow of the Fogg Art Museum, was granted leave to conduct research in Asia.
  • He pursued studies on Buddhist sculpture in Japan, specifically focusing on the cataloging of Japanese Buddhist sculpture.
  • Warner visited Korea to study recently discovered kiln sites on the peninsula.
  • He also visited China and procured a pair of remarkable green glazed jars for the museum.
  • The article mentions an excavation project at the site of the ancient city of Conant in the Shanxi Province of China.
  • The excavation, led by Sir Percival David, uncovered pottery and porcelain from the 16th to 18th centuries.

The page provides a mix of scientific and historical research activities conducted by the Fogg Art Museum staff, highlighting their contributions to the fields of art history and archaeology.

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The image is a page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated December 13, 1927. The page contains several articles related to Harvard and its activities.

  1. X-RAYING PAINTINGS:

    • Alan Burroughs, a staff member at the Fogg Art Museum, has undertaken an X-ray study of early paintings. This study was carried out over two years under the supervision of E. W. Forbes, Director of the Museum.
    • The work includes X-raying 180 paintings, including notable works by Jan van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Giorgione, and Titian.
    • The goal is to authenticate the paintings and determine the extent of repainting. The study began with a grant from the Milton Fund and has been supported by various institutions, including the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin, the National Gallery in London, the Fitzwilliam Gallery, the Ghent Cathedral, and museums in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent.
    • The Fogg Museum has also X-rayed pictures for the Metropolitan Museum of New York, revealing that some pictures were forgeries and identifying repainted areas.
  2. OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM:

    • Langdon Warner, a Fellow of the Fogg Art Museum, was granted leave to study Buddhist sculpture in Japan from April to October 1928.
    • Warner's work in Japan will help complete his catalog of Japanese Buddhist sculpture, which he started in 1908.
    • Warner visited Korea and China, where he examined kiln sites and collected funds for his research. His visit was supported by Arthur Lehman and funds from Charles Bain Hoyt of New York.
  3. EXCAVATIONS:

    • George E. Conant, a Professor at Harvard, led excavations in the ancient city of Sianfu, China. He discovered a third-century painting of a Buddhist temple and a manuscript on the "Padmasambhava," the patron saint of Tibet.
    • The excavations also uncovered pottery and porcelain, including pieces from the 17th to the 19th centuries, and a manuscript on ancient Iranian law.

The page provides a detailed account of the academic and research activities related to art and archaeology at Harvard University during the late 1920s.

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The image displays a page from the December 13, 1927, issue of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin. The page features an article titled "X-RAYING PAINTINGS" by Alan Burroughs.

The article discusses the use of X-rays to study and reveal hidden details in early paintings. Alan Burroughs, a member of the Fogg Art Museum staff, has returned from Europe with X-ray studies of early paintings. This project, undertaken with the supervision of E. W. Forbes, involved examining paintings from various museums, including the Louvre, the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin, the National Gallery in London, the Fitzwilliam Gallery, and several others. The X-ray studies aim to authenticate these works and uncover previously hidden details.

One significant example mentioned is the repainted picture by Pourbus. Another case discussed is the painting by Tintoretto, where an X-ray revealed that the head in the painting was not by the artist but by a forger. The X-ray technology has also helped identify a repainted head in a young man's portrait, suggesting it was originally painted by an older man.

Additionally, the article mentions Langdon Warner's work on Japanese Buddhist sculpture, which was supported by grants from the Fogg Art Museum and the Huntington Memorial Hospital. Warner is using the X-rays to study the authenticity of Japanese Buddhist sculptures.

The page also includes a section on "Other News of the Fogg Museum," detailing discoveries in the excavation of ancient sites in Korea and China, and mentions the acquisition of a manuscript in ancient Iranian languages. The page concludes with a brief mention of an excavation site in Tibet.

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The image displays a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin" dated December 13, 1927. The page is numbered 344 and features an article titled "X-RAYING PAINTINGS." The article discusses Alan Burroughs' work at the Fogg Art Museum, where he conducted X-ray studies on paintings. Burroughs examined approximately 180 paintings, including works by Jan van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Giorgione, and Titian. The X-ray process helped verify the authenticity of the paintings and provided insights into their condition and history. Notably, the article mentions that two pictures at the Metropolitan Museum of New York were discovered to be forgeries through this method. Additionally, the article includes a section on "OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM," highlighting the departure of Langdon Warner for Japan to study Buddhist sculpture and the acquisition of a 13th-century Persian manuscript. The page also includes an excerpt about excavations at the Palace of Sargon, discovered by G. C. Contenau, with findings such as a gold-plated silver head and ivory carvings.

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The image shows a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin," specifically page 344 from an issue dated December 13, 1928. The page contains two columns of printed text, with typeset headlines and paragraphs discussing various subjects related to alumni and events. The topics covered on this page appear to pertain to art and cultural activities, mentioning X-raying paintings and other news from the Fogg Museum.

There's a visible fold in the center of the page, suggesting frequent handling or that the bulletin was sent through the mail or folded for storage. The book or binding edge is on the left, indicating that this is a right-hand page from a larger volume.

The text itself is too small to read clearly in this format, but the overall condition of the page seems to be good, with no visible tears or stains. It's a historical document that provides a glimpse into the activities and interests of Harvard alumni at that time.

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The image shows a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin," dated December 13, 1928. The page number is 344, and the visible content is primarily text divided into two columns.

The main article in the left column is titled "X-RAYING PAINTINGS." It discusses the work of Alan Burroughs, a staff member of the Fogg Art Museum, who returned from Europe after conducting an X-ray study of early paintings. The work was supervised by E. W. Forbes, Director of the Museum. Burroughs worked on paintings in various European museums, including the Louvre, the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, the National Gallery in London, the Fitzwilliam Gallery in Cambridge, and museums in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. The study focused on Italian masters and the Flemish and Dutch schools, with additional attention to French and German art.

The text explains that 181 paintings were X-rayed, including works by Jan van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Giorgione, and Titian. The purpose was to authenticate paintings, analyze repainting, and build a corpus of scientific data on artists' styles and painting methods. The work was funded partially by the Milton Fund, with equipment loaned by the Huntington Memorial Hospital.

It is noted that two paintings from the Metropolitan Museum of New York were X-rayed, revealing one as a forgery. The Fogg Museum itself owns a painting by Tintoretto that was X-rayed and displayed to compare the paint layers with X-ray photographs.

The right column begins with the heading "OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM," mentioning Langdon Warner, a fellow of the museum, who was granted leave to study Buddhist sculpture in Japan. It also details acquisitions and research related to Korean pottery and visits to Korea.

The page is from an old bound volume, and the text is printed in a serif font. The edges of the page show signs of aging, and there are additional notes or labels at the top of the page indicating the publication and date.

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The image shows an open page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated December 13, 1927. The page is numbered 344 and features two main articles:

Left Column: "X-RAYING PAINTINGS"

  • Content Overview: This article discusses the use of X-ray technology to study and authenticate paintings. It highlights the work of Alan Burroughs, 20, a student at the Fogg Art Museum, who conducted an X-ray study of early paintings under the supervision of E. W. Forbes, 95, Director of the Museum.
  • Key Points:
    • Burroughs returned from a two-year study in Europe, where he spent most of his time in Italian museums, including the Louvre and the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in Berlin.
    • During the past year, he made X-ray tests of paintings at several institutions, including the National Gallery in London, the Fitzwilliam Gallery, Cambridge, the Ghent Cathedral, and art museums in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent.
    • The recent work supplements the study of Italian masters by an investigation of Flemish and Dutch schools of painting, with some attention to French and German art.
    • One hundred and eighty-one pictures were X-rayed, including works by Jan van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Giorgione, and Titian. It is noted that assembled plates will be available for connoisseurs, scholars, and students, who may question the authenticity of paintings.
    • The Fogg Art Museum has not carried out X-ray work as its chief interest is the building up of a corpus of material that will add scientific data relating to the problems and individual styles of artists and methods of painting. The study will enable students to determine the amount of repainting on a picture.
    • The first work in the study of paintings by means of the X-ray was undertaken under a grant from the Milton Fund. The Huntington Memorial Hospital loaned the X-ray machine for the purpose, and Mr. Burroughs made the plates. Most of the pictures in the Fogg Museum were X-rayed, as well as a few pictures of individuals who had questions they wished to have answered. Two paintings were X-rayed for the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

Right Column: "OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM"

  • Content Overview: This section provides updates on activities and acquisitions at the Fogg Art Museum.
  • Key Points:
    • Langdon Warner, '03, Fellow of the Fogg Art Museum for Research in Asia, was granted leave of absence from April to October 1928, in order that he might pursue his studies on Buddhist sculpture in Japan. His work began more than twenty years ago and was renewed at intervals ever since.
    • Mr. Warner was able to conclude his catalogue of Japanese Buddhist sculpture as far as the year 800 A.D. His two thousand-odd photographs of eight-century Buddhist sculpture, which were brought back to Camp Arthur, were procured with funds given by Bridge Lehman, '94, of New York.
    • Warner, who accompanied his husband, Mrs. A. D. Warner, visited Korea, where he enabled her to visit the recently discovered kiln sites on the peninsula and greatly enlarged her collection of Korean pottery types.
    • Funds for this purpose were supplied by Charles Bain Hoyt, of New York.
    • Sir Percival David, the well-known English collector of pottery and porcelain, has just procured in China a pair of rare...

Additional Notes:

  • The page also includes a brief section titled "EXCAVATION" on the far right, which mentions discoveries made by G. Arthur Plimpton at the site of the clearance of the nearly garage, and nearly through which the explorers found the ceremonial occasions.
  • The text is formatted in a traditional newspaper or bulletin style, with clear headings and structured paragraphs. The page appears to be part of a historical publication, reflecting early 20th-century academic and museum activities.

Visual Details:

  • The page is printed on aged, slightly yellowed paper, suggesting it is an original or preserved copy.
  • The text is typed in a serif font, typical of formal publications of the era.
  • The left margin includes handwritten notes or markings, such as "Harvard Alumni Bulletin" and a date ("Dec. 13, 1927") at the top right corner.
  • The page number "344" is visible at the top left, and there are faint annotations or stamps near the top edge.

Overall, the image depicts a historical document that provides insights into early 20th-century art conservation techniques, museum activities, and archaeological discoveries.

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The image shows an open book with a black cover and white pages. The book is titled "Harvard Alumni Bulletin," with the date "Dec. 13, 1928" at the top. The pages contain text written in black ink, with the left page displaying a section titled "X-RAYING PAINTINGS" and the right page featuring the heading "OTHER NEWS OF THE FOGG MUSEUM." The text discusses the use of X-ray technology in art conservation and restoration, as well as recent activities and acquisitions at the Fogg Art Museum.