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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, February 1958-December 1960

ARCH.2003.34, Rendition: 807072

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image displays an open, black, hardcover scrapbook or album, likely from a library or institutional archive, showcasing two newspaper clippings mounted on its pages.

The clippings are from a dated newspaper, identified at the top of the upper article as "HARVARD CRIMSON, Friday, March 25, 1966."


Top Clipping: "‘Action’ Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg"

By Dorothy Aldow, this article reviews two concurrent exhibitions at the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University.

  • It discusses the modern "Action" paintings, noting their energetic, non-representational style and their appeal to students who relate their gestural qualities to psychology.
  • A quote from Karen Appel is included: “I never try to make a painting, but a chunk of life,” and she describes the process as “a child, it is a tiger behind bars,” highlighting the intense, almost primal energy of the works.
  • The article contrasts these with the quieter, more technically masterful 18th-century etchings of Giovanni Battista Piranesi.
  • It praises Piranesi for his "mastery in control of line," "handling of whites," and "introduction of gold," noting how his dramatic architectural fantasies influenced modern artists like Eric Schroeder.
  • The piece concludes by encouraging readers to study these etchings to appreciate the "background of ideas and thoughts of modern graphic artists."

Bottom Clipping: "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66 — Noted Archaeologist, Harvard Art Expert"

This is an obituary for Prentice Duell, a prominent expert in archaeology and art who died at 66.

  • Biography: A native of New Albany, Indiana, he received his A.B. from the University of California in 1916 and his A.M. and Ph.D. in architecture from Harvard in 1917 and 1924, respectively.
  • Career: He served as a research fellow in European art at the Fogg Museum (1920–1923) and later made his home at the Harvard Club in New York City.
  • Teaching and Work: He lectured widely, wrote numerous monographs on archaeology and art restoration, and taught at the University of Illinois, Williamsburg (1929–31), and the University of Cincinnati. He also taught classical archaeology at Bryn Mawr College (1939–30).
  • Fieldwork: He traveled to many of the world’s earliest habitats for his archaeological pursuits.
  • Military Service: A WWI veteran, he served as a balloon pilot-observer in the Signal and Aeronautic divisions and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
  • Affiliations: He held memberships in organizations like the Century Club of New York, Harvard Club, and University of Cincinnati Alumni Association.
  • Family: He is survived by his brother, Prentice G. Duell of Beaumont, California.
  • Handwritten Note: In the left margin of this clipping, the handwritten date “4/20/60” is visible, which appears to be inconsistent with the newspaper’s 1966 publication date — possibly indicating when the clipping was filed or mislabeled.

The scrapbook and its contents reflect a scholarly interest in art history, archaeology, and museum culture, curated for archival or research purposes. The clipping on Prentice Duell, despite its 1966 publication, was likely filed in 1960 — perhaps indicating it was a retrospective or error in annotation. The overall presentation evokes a sense of academic preservation and institutional memory.

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

The image shows a page from a book or a collection, featuring two newspaper clippings. The top clipping is titled "Action' Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg" by Dorothy Adlow and discusses an exhibition at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. The article elaborates on various artworks, particularly focusing on modern paintings and 18th-century etchings, expressing appreciation for their artistic qualities and the museum's diverse collection.

The lower clipping is a news obituary titled "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66," noting the death of a noted archaeologist and Harvard Art Expert. It provides details about Prentice Duell's life, career, and achievements, including his research on Etruscan art, his work on the restoration of Williamsburg, Virginia, and his military service during World War I. The obituary also mentions his education and academic positions, highlighting his contributions to the field of archaeology and art history.

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

The image shows an open scrapbook or document folder with two pieces of news clippings pasted on a dark gray or black page. The page appears to be part of a binder, as indicated by the visible binding on the left side.

  1. Top Clipping:

    • The headline reads: "Action' Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg."
    • It is dated "MONITOR, Friday, March 15, 1963."
    • The article discusses various exhibits at the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, including modern paintings and 18th-century etchings.
  2. Bottom Clipping:

    • The headline reads: "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66."
    • It is subtitled: "Noted Archaeologist, Harvard Art Expert."
    • The article details the life and career of Prentice Duell, noting his contributions to archaeology and his role as a Harvard Art Expert. It mentions his death at the age of 66 and provides some biographical details, including his education and professional experiences.

The clippings appear to be carefully placed and possibly glued onto the page, suggesting they are part of a collection of important articles or memorabilia related to the Fogg Art Museum and Prentice Duell.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image depicts a scrapbook page featuring a collection of newspaper clippings. The clippings are affixed to a black background using adhesive tape. The clippings are predominantly white, with some having a yellowish tint, suggesting they may be from older newspapers. The clippings are arranged in a somewhat haphazard manner, with some overlapping others.

The top clipping, positioned at the top center, reads "MONITOR Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg" and is dated March 25, 1956. It appears to be an article about an exhibition at the Fogg Art Museum, discussing the display of paintings and etchings. The text is concise and provides a summary of the exhibit.

Below this, there is another clipping that reads "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66" and identifies him as a noted archaeologist and Harvard art expert. This clipping provides a brief obituary, highlighting Duell's career achievements and contributions to archaeology and art history.

The clippings vary in size and shape, with some being rectangular and others more irregular. The black background provides a stark contrast, making the white text and images stand out. The arrangement suggests a personal collection, possibly created by someone interested in art, archaeology, or both fields.

The scrapbook page gives an impression of a curated collection of articles that were important or interesting to the collector. The use of tape to affix the clippings indicates a DIY approach, common in personal scrapbooks. The combination of articles about an art exhibition and an obituary of a notable figure in archaeology and art suggests a thematic connection or personal interest in these subjects.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image shows an open book with two newspaper clippings attached to the pages. The first clipping is about "Action Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg" and the second clipping is about "Prentice Duelli Dies, Aged 66." The book is open to a page with the title "Prentice Duelli Dies, Aged 66" on the left side and the clipping on the right side. The book has a black cover with a white border and a spine. The newspaper clippings are attached to the pages with a white adhesive.

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

The image shows an open book with two distinct sections visible on the page:

Left Section:

  • Title: "Action Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg"
  • Author: Dorothy Adlow
  • Content: This section appears to be an article or essay discussing art, specifically focusing on action paintings and 18th-century etchings housed at the Fogg Art Museum. The text delves into the characteristics of these artworks, their historical context, and their significance. It mentions artists such as David Thompson and references various artistic techniques and styles.

Right Section:

  • Headline: "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66"
  • Subheadline: "Noted Archaeologist, Harvard Art Expert"
  • Content: This section is an obituary or news article about Prentice Duell, a noted archaeologist and Harvard art expert who passed away at the age of 66. Key details include:
    • Death Information: Duell died at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City.
    • Career Highlights: He was a renowned archaeologist with significant contributions to the field, including work at sites such as Knossos in Greece and the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt.
    • Education and Affiliations: He was a graduate of the University of California and Harvard University, and he held positions at institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and Bryn Mawr College.
    • Military Service: He served in World War I.
    • Memberships: He was affiliated with organizations such as the Archaeological Institute of America and the Harvard Faculty Club.

Overall Layout:

  • The page is divided into two columns. The left column contains an academic or art-focused article, while the right column features a news obituary. The contrast between the two sections highlights a juxtaposition of scholarly discourse and a personal tribute to a distinguished individual. The design suggests this is from a publication that covers both academic and current events, possibly a university newsletter, art journal, or a newspaper with diverse content.

Visual Details:

  • The text is printed in a classic, serif font typical of formal publications.
  • The page appears to be from a bound book or magazine, with visible spine edges and page numbers (e.g., "HONORARY" and "HONORARY" at the top).
  • The layout is clean and structured, with clear headings and subheadings to guide the reader.

This image captures a moment where art history and the life of a notable scholar intersect within the same publication.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image you have provided is of an open scrapbook or album page containing a pasted newspaper obituary article. The headline of the article reads "Prenitce Duell Dies, Aged 66," followed by a subheading "Noted Archaeologist, Harvard Art Expert." The article appears to provide details about Prentice Duell's career, contributions to archaeology and art, as well as some information about his life. The obituary is clipped and pasted vertically on the right half of the page.

On the left side, there is another newspaper clipping with the headline reading "Action 'Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg" by Varley and Beverly Alson. Both articles are in English and they are on a black paper background which is part of the scrapbook page. The upper right corner of the scrapbook page seems to hold another smaller clipping or label that's folded over.

Due to the resolution and angle of the photo, it's difficult to read the full content of the articles. The physical condition of the scrapbook page suggests it is relatively well-preserved, with the paper and text seemingly intact and legible. There is a metal clip at the right edge indicating the page can be secured or marked for reference.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This image shows a black scrapbook page with two newspaper clippings attached.

  1. Top clipping:

    • Its title reads "Action Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg".
    • The author is Dorothy Adlow, and the text appears related to an art exhibit or review. It discusses paintings, 18th-century etchings, and possibly the artistic method or philosophy behind them. The publication date seems to be March 25, 1966, which is handwritten at the top-left corner.
  2. Bottom clipping:

    • Its title reads "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66 / Noted Archeologist, Harvard Art Expert".
    • This obituary details the life and career of Prentice Duell, highlighting his work as an archeologist and art expert associated with Harvard. It mentions his achievements, notable postings, and affiliations. Additionally, it references his service during World War I, his educational background, and family details.

The page is securely bound, and the scrapbook corners are visible. There is also a metal tab on the right-hand side that holds the page in place.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

  • A page from a scrapbook laid on a dark background, held in place by metal corner clips.
  • Several small newspaper clippings are pasted onto the page in a roughly vertical and horizontal layout.
  • The clippings are old-fashioned in style, with dense columns of text and bold headlines.
  • Prominent headline in the center-left reads something like “Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66” and identifies him as a noted archaeologist and Harvard art expert; the clipping looks like an obituary with biographical details.
  • Other clippings discuss art topics, including “Action” paintings and 18th-century etchings at the Fogg (likely the Fogg Art Museum), and related articles.
  • The overall theme of the page seems to be art-related news and obituary/biographical content, collected and arranged in a scrapbook format.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows a dark scrapbook page containing two newspaper clippings. The larger clipping at the top is an article titled "Action Paintings and 18th-Century Etchings at Fogg," written by Dorothy Adlow. The article discusses an exhibit at Harvard University, comparing modern action paintings by artists like G. David Thompson to the 18th-century etchings of Giovanni Battista Piranesi. It highlights contrasts between contemporary and classical art styles, the influence of the museum's setting on viewers, and the educational aspects of the exhibit.

The smaller clipping below is an obituary titled "Prentice Duell Dies, Aged 66," describing the death of Prentice Duell, a noted archaeologist and Harvard art expert. It details his career, education, and contributions to archaeology and restoration, as well as his military service in World War I. The obituary also mentions his surviving family members. Handwritten on the side of the obituary is the date "4/20/60."

The scrapbook page appears to be black with some slight wear or discoloration around the edges. The clippings are neatly affixed in the upper and middle sections of the page.