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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1950-April 1951

ARCH.2003.31, Rendition: 804312

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image is a news clipping from the Boston Post dated November 23, 1950. The headline reads, "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow." Below the headline is a photograph titled "THE FUNERAL OF OPHELIA," which is described as one of the settings for "Hamlet" by Lee Simonson. The settings are part of an exhibition called "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre," which is being held at the Fogg Art Museum. The article provides details about the exhibition and mentions that the settings are courtesy of The Century Lighting Co., Inc., of New York. The article also provides information about the speaker, Elliot Norton, a Post drama critic, who will give a free public lecture on "The Theatre Today" in connection with the exhibition. Additionally, the article highlights the collaboration between the Fogg Art Museum and the Harvard Theatre Collection and mentions the trio of designers involved in the exhibition: Robert E. Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This image is a scanned newspaper clipping from the Boston Post, dated Thursday, November 23, 1950. The article announces that Elliot Norton, the drama critic for the Boston Post, will give a free public lecture the next day at 4 o'clock in the large lecture hall at the Fogg Art Museum in Cambridge on "The Theatre Today."

The article mentions that this lecture is part of a series of three talks connected with an exhibition titled "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre," which is organized by the museum in collaboration with the Harvard Theatre Collection and will run through Saturday. The featured designers are Robert E. Jones, Donald Oenslager, and Lee Simonson.

A photograph accompanying the article shows a set design for "The Funeral of Ophelia" from the play "Hamlet," created by Lee Simonson. The caption notes that the design is lent by The Century Lighting Co., Inc., of New York, and it highlights the stark contrast between Hamlet's black garb and the brightness surrounding him.

Lee Simonson is described as a principal stage designer for the Theatre Guild and a founder of both the Theatre Guild and the Harvard Dramatic Club. The article also mentions two notable plays for which he designed sets: "Heartbreak House" and "Back to Methuselah" by George Bernard Shaw.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image shows a newspaper clipping with the heading "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow." The clipping is attached to a piece of paper with the text "Boston News Clip" and the address "120 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass." The clipping has a black-and-white image of a building and a group of people in front of it. The clipping also includes a brief description of the event and the names of the speakers.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

This image is a clipping from the Boston Post newspaper dated November 23, 1950. It features an article about an upcoming lecture by Elliot Norton, a drama critic for the Boston Post, at the Fogg Art Museum. The article announces that Norton will speak about the exhibition "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre," which includes stage designs for Shakespeare's "Hamlet" by Lee Simonson. The clipping also includes a black-and-white photo of the exhibition's setting, "The Funeral of Ophelia," designed by Simonson. The article provides background information on Simonson and his notable works, highlighting his role as one of the founders of the Harvard Dramatic Club and his contributions to the Harvard Theatre Collection.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image shows a scanned newspaper clipping from the Boston Post, dated Thursday, November 23, 1950. The headline prominently reads: "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow."

Details from the Image:

Header Information:

  • The clipping is from the Boston News Clip service, located at 120 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.
  • The postmark indicates it was mailed from Boston, Mass., on November 23, 1950.
  • The newspaper issue is identified as 128 F, likely a reference to the page or section number.

Headline and Subheading:

  • The main headline announces that Elliot Norton, the Post drama critic, will deliver a free public lecture at the Fogg Art Museum the following day (Friday, November 24, 1950) at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
  • The lecture is part of a series of talks given in connection with an exhibition titled "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre," which is being held at the Fogg Art Museum in cooperation with the Harvard Theatre Collection.

Visual Element:

  • Below the headline, there is a black-and-white photograph depicting a dramatic stage setting. The caption identifies it as "The Funeral of Ophelia," a scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet, designed by Lee Simonson. The photograph is credited to The Century Lighting Co., Inc., of New York, and it is noted as being lent to the exhibition by the Fogg Art Museum.

Article Content:

  • The article provides context about the exhibition, highlighting that it features settings and costumes for the theatre of the 20th century, designed by three principal stage designers: Lee Simonson, Robert Edmond Jones, and Donald Genut.
  • It specifically mentions Simonson’s design for "The Funeral of Ophelia" from Hamlet, praising its black garb and strongly contrasting elements, which the author considers a notable piece of work.
  • Simonson is described as a widely known designer, having been one of the founders of the Harvard Dramatic Club. The article also notes that he designed fine settings for plays such as "Heartbreak House" and "Back to Methuselah" by George Bernard Shaw.

Additional Information:

  • Elliot Norton is identified as a Harvard graduate, adding credibility to his role as the Post drama critic.
  • The article emphasizes the cooperation between the Fogg Art Museum and the Harvard Theatre Collection in organizing the exhibition and lecture series.

Overall Context:

The clipping captures a cultural event from the early 1950s, focusing on the intersection of theatre design, art, and education. It highlights the contributions of notable designers like Lee Simonson and the role of institutions such as the Fogg Art Museum and Harvard in promoting theatrical arts. The inclusion of a photograph of a dramatic stage setting adds a visual element that underscores the artistic and historical significance of the exhibition.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-11b-instruct-v1:0

The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip, dated November 23, 1950. The clipping features a headline that reads "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow" and includes a photograph of a stage set for the play "Hamlet."

  • Newspaper Clipping
    • The clipping is from the Boston News Clip, dated November 23, 1950.
    • The headline reads "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow."
    • The clipping includes a photograph of a stage set for the play "Hamlet."
  • Photograph
    • The photograph depicts a stage set for the play "Hamlet."
    • The set features a large archway and a tall, narrow structure.
    • The photograph is in black and white.
  • Text
    • The text below the photograph describes the play and the speaker.
    • The speaker is identified as Mr. Lee Simonson, a renowned stage designer.
    • The play is described as a production of "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare.
    • The text also mentions that the play will be performed at the Fogg Art Museum.

In summary, the image presents a vintage newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip, dated November 23, 1950. The clipping features a headline that reads "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow" and includes a photograph of a stage set for the play "Hamlet." The photograph depicts a large archway and a tall, narrow structure, and the text below describes the play and the speaker. The speaker is identified as Mr. Lee Simonson, a renowned stage designer, and the play is described as a production of "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. The text also mentions that the play will be performed at the Fogg Art Museum.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-90b-instruct-v1:0

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston News Clip, dated November 23, 1950. The headline reads "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow."

The article features a black-and-white photograph of a stage set for "Hamlet," designed by Lee Simonson. The set depicts a dark and moody scene with a tall tower in the background.

Below the photo, the article provides details about the event, including the speaker, Elliot Norton, and the topics he will discuss. The article also mentions that the exhibition will be open to the public and that there will be a free lecture on the same day.

Overall, the image appears to be an advertisement for an upcoming event at the Fogg Art Museum, featuring a renowned drama critic and showcasing the work of a prominent set designer.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-maverick-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image is a scanned newspaper clipping from the Boston Post, dated November 23, 1950. The headline reads "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow."

Key Elements:

  • Newspaper Clipping: The clipping is from the Boston Post, dated November 23, 1950.
  • Headline: The headline announces that a drama critic will speak at the Fogg Art Museum the following day.
  • Image: A black-and-white photograph accompanies the article, depicting a stage setting for "Hamlet" designed by Lee Simonson.
  • Article: The article discusses an exhibition titled "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre" at the Fogg Art Museum, featuring designs by Lee Simonson, Robert E. Jones, and Donald Oenslager.
  • Additional Information: A smaller clipping above the main article appears to be a receipt or invoice from "Boston News Clip" with the date "Nov 23 1950" and a handwritten notation "128 T."

Overall Impression:

The image presents a historical newspaper clipping that provides insight into a cultural event in Boston in 1950. The article highlights the upcoming lecture by a drama critic at the Fogg Art Museum and showcases the work of three prominent theatre designers.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-scout-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping from the Boston Post, dated Thursday, November 23, 1950. The article is titled "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow" and features a photograph of a stage set.

  • Newspaper Clipping
    • Date: Thursday, November 23, 1950
    • Title: "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow"
    • Photograph: A stage set with a large archway and a tall tower
  • Article
    • Text: The article discusses a lecture by Elliot Norton, Post drama critic, on "The Theatre Today"
    • Details:
      • The lecture will be given in connection with an exhibition titled "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre"
      • The exhibition features settings and costumes for the theatre of this century
      • Projects for "Hamlet" by all three artists are included
      • Lee Simonson's design for "The Funeral of Ophelia" is highlighted
    • Statistics:
      • 4 o'clock: Time of the lecture
      • November 23, 1950: Date of the lecture
  • Boston News Clip
    • Address: 120 Tremont Street, Boston 8, Mass.
    • Post: Boston, Mass.
    • Date: Nov 23 1950
    • Handwritten notes: "128 T"

In summary, the image shows a vintage newspaper clipping from the Boston Post, dated November 23, 1950, announcing a lecture by Elliot Norton at the Fogg Art Museum and featuring a photograph of a stage set. The article provides details about the lecture and the exhibition, including the time and date of the lecture.

Mistral, us.mistral.pixtral-large-2502-v1:0

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston Post, dated Thursday, November 23, 1950. The headline reads "Post Drama Critic Will Speak at Fogg Art Museum Tomorrow." The article announces that Elliot Norton, the Post's drama critic, will deliver a lecture at the Fogg Art Museum in Cambridge on the topic of "The Funeral of Ophelia."

The lecture is part of a series of talks related to an exhibition of settings and costumes for "Hamlet," designed by Lee Simonson and lent by The Century Lighting Co., Inc., of New York. The exhibition is part of the "Three Designers for the Contemporary Theatre" show at the Fogg Art Museum.

The article mentions that Norton's talk will take place at 4 o'clock in the large lecture hall of the museum. It also provides background on Norton, noting that he is a Harvard graduate and has been the drama critic for the Post since 1948. The article highlights Norton's extensive experience in theater, including his roles as an actor, stage manager, and playwright, as well as his involvement in the Harvard Dramatic Club and the Theatre Guild of New York.

The image includes a photograph of a stage setting for "The Funeral of Ophelia," featuring a somber, dark scene with a prominent gravestone and mourners gathered around it. The caption under the photo describes the setting as designed by Lee Simonson for a 1936 production of "Hamlet" at the Harvard Dramatic Club.

Overall, the article emphasizes Norton's expertise and the significance of the exhibition and lecture series at the Fogg Art Museum.