Archives Scrapbooks

This image shows a yellowed newspaper clipping, likely from the mid-20th century, mounted on a larger piece of aged paper. The clipping is from “The Pilot,” a weekly newspaper based in Boston, Mass., with a circulation of 155,000, dated April 17, 1965.

The clipping contains two main articles:

1. Main Article: “Fogg Art Museum Acquires Rembrandt ‘Head of Christ’”

This article reports on the acquisition of an oil sketch by Rembrandt titled “Head of Christ” by the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. Key points include:

• Description: The painting is described as “one of the most sensitive visualizations of Christ in his work.” It is a 10 by 7¼ inch oil sketch from around 1656, possibly painted by Rembrandt himself or a follower, and kept in his studio bedroom.
• Provenance: The painting was a gift from William A. Coolidge, Harvard ’24, and had never before been publicly exhibited. It was recently acquired from the estate of actor Thomas Mitchell.
• Authenticity: Experts, including Professor Seymour Slive (Harvard’s Department of Fine Arts chair), confirmed the painting’s authenticity. Slive noted its stylistic connection to other Rembrandt depictions of Christ from the 1650s and observed that it may have influenced later works.
• Visual Details: The painting features a face turned slightly to the right with softly glowing light illuminating the head and neck, and translucent shadows. The face appears “almost fully from the front,” reflecting Rembrandt’s mature emotional depth.
• Historical Context: The painting had been in private collections since the 19th century, including in Philadelphia and Detroit, before being acquired by a member of the Boston Businessman William A. Coolidge’s family. It was sold in 1939 to Thomas Mitchell, whose estate sold it to the Fogg Museum. The article notes the painting’s “personal” meaning to the artist, as Rembrandt painted Christ as a “flesh-and-blood” human figure, possibly modeled on a young Jew.

2. Left Column — “Museums” Section from TIME Magazine (April 16, 1965)

This section reports on the same Rembrandt painting under the headline “The Fogg’s Find.”

• It details the story of Harvard’s Fine Arts Chairman Seymour Slive discovering the painting on a “camping trip” in Los Angeles after seeing it in a private collection. He later brought it back to Boston for scholarly evaluation.
• The article notes that six leading Dutch Rembrandt scholars examined the painting and agreed on its authenticity.
• Valuation: Experts valued the painting at $400,000. However, the Fogg Museum purchased it for only $36,000 — described as “relatively modest” — through a gift from William A. Coolidge.

Visual Features

• The clipping includes two black-and-white reproductions of the painting “Head of Christ”: one larger one on the right, and a smaller one on the left under the “Museums” section.
• Handwritten notes are visible: “52/1965 2”, “APR 17 1965”, and “ISSUE DELAYED EN ROUTE” are inked near the top.
• Press Clipping Service stamp: From “AMERICAN Press Clipping Service Inc., 119 Nassau Street, New York 38, N.Y.” is stamped near the top left.
• The clipping is slightly creased and brittle, with some tearing along the edges, suggesting its age.

Summary

This is a well-preserved press clipping documenting a significant 1965 art acquisition: the Fogg Art Museum’s purchase of Rembrandt’s “Head of Christ” for a fraction of its estimated value, thanks to a generous donation. The article highlights the painting’s artistic significance, its mysterious journey through private collections, and the scholarly confirmation of its authenticity — a notable event in American museum history. The inclusion of the TIME Magazine excerpt reinforces the public significance of the discovery.

The image shows a page from a book or magazine that appears to be related to art and museum acquisitions. The page is aged, with some yellowing and wear, suggesting it's from an older publication. There are several cutouts of newspaper clippings and articles pasted onto the page.

The main article, titled "Jewish Face," discusses the acquisition of a Rembrandt painting titled "Head of Christ" by the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. The article explains the background of the painting's discovery and its significance within the museum's collection. It mentions the involvement of Professor Seymour Slive, as well as other details about the painting's history and the procedure for its acquisition.

At the top of the page, there is a cutout from "The Pilot" newspaper, dated April 17, 1965. This clipping provides additional context about the painting, mentioning its size (10 by 7 3/8 inches) and that it was formerly owned by actor Thomas Mitchell.

There is also a smaller cutout of the original sketch of "Head of Christ" by Rembrandt, along with a note below it that states, "The sketch looked compellingly Rembrandt." The left side of the page contains a printed article from "American Press Clipping Service Inc." dated April 16, 1965, discussing the Fogg's acquisition of a major Rembrandt painting.

The overall layout of the page suggests it might be part of a collection or scrapbook of articles and images related to art history and museum acquisitions.

This image shows a newspaper clipping from "The Pilot," a weekly publication from Boston, Massachusetts, dated April 17, 1965. The clipping is about the Fogg Art Museum's acquisition of a Rembrandt painting titled "Head of Christ."

The article discusses how the museum acquired the painting, which was formerly owned by film actor Thomas Mitchell. It provides details about the painting's history, its significance, and its features. The painting is described as one of the most sensitive visualizations of Christ in Rembrandt's work, and it is noted that Rembrandt used a member of the Amsterdam Jewish community as a model for the head of Christ, which was a radical innovation at the time.

The clipping includes two images of the painting. The top image shows a close-up of Christ's face, while the bottom image shows the entire painting. The article also mentions that the painting was acquired with the help of William A. Coolidge and was evaluated at a high price, though the purchase price was relatively modest at $36,000.

The clipping is part of a folder or scrapbook, as indicated by the visible edges of the folder and the other papers and clippings partially visible in the image. There is also a label from the American Press Clipping Service Inc. on the left side of the clipping, indicating its source.

The image shows a clipping from Time Magazine, dated April 16, 1965, featuring an article about the Fogg Art Museum's acquisition of a Rembrandt sketch titled "Head of Christ." The clipping is attached to a piece of paper with the address of American Press Clipping Service, Inc., located at 119 Nassau Street, New York 38, N.Y.

The article discusses the museum's acquisition of the Rembrandt sketch, which was purchased for $36,000. The article mentions that the sketch was previously owned by Professor Seymour Slive of Harvard University, who had been casually shown the unsigned 17th-century oil sketch. After careful inspection, Fogg Art Museum curators authenticated the sketch and agreed on its authenticity. Experts evaluated it as high as $100,000, but the museum was able to acquire it for a lower price. The article also provides a brief history of the painting, including its previous ownership and the circumstances surrounding its acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum.

The image is a clipping from a magazine, featuring an article about the Fogg Art Museum's acquisition of a Rembrandt oil sketch titled "Head of Christ." The clipping includes a photograph of the sketch, a description of the acquisition, and a brief biography of Rembrandt. The article highlights the significance of the sketch, which is one of the most sensitive visualizations of Christ in Rembrandt's work, and its acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum. The clipping also includes a photograph of Rembrandt himself, taken from a magazine.

The image shows a page from a press clipping service document, specifically from the American Press Clipping Service, Inc. located at 119 Nassau Street, New York 38, N.Y. The clipping is dated April 16, 1965, and is from TIME Magazine, with the issue delayed and marked as "EN ROUTE."

Content of the Clipping:

The page features an article titled "Fogg Art Museum Acquires Rembrandt 'Head of Christ'" from the Boston Weekly Globe, dated April 17, 1965, with a circulation of 55,000. The article discusses the acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum of a Rembrandt oil sketch titled "Head of Christ", measuring 10 by 7 ¾ inches.

Key Details from the Article:

1. Acquisition Details:

   • The sketch was recently acquired by the Fogg Art Museum and is now on exhibit at Harvard University.
   • It was formerly the property of film actor Thomas Mitchell.

2. Description of the Artwork:

   • The sketch is described as one of the most sensitive visualizations of Christ, with Rembrandt's characteristic soft glowing light illumination and deep shadows.
   • The head is gently turned inward, and the face is seen almost full face, with the eyes looking downward. The mouth is gently curved, and the inner mood and deep content are evident.

3. Historical Context:

   • The sketch was part of Rembrandt's personal collection and was placed in his bedroom.
   • It is one of only a few known examples of Rembrandt's sketches that have survived.
   • The authenticity of the sketch was confirmed by Professor Sive van der Woude, an expert on Dutch painting of the 17th century.

4. Provenance:

   • The sketch was part of the collection of Dutch scholar Willem A. Coledge, who bequeathed it to Harvard.
   • It was later gifted to the Fogg Art Museum by Coledge's widow, Mrs. Coledge.

5. Expert Evaluation:

   • Experts, including Jacob Rosenberg, evaluated the sketch and confirmed its authenticity and high artistic value.
   • The sketch was priced at $6,000, considered a relatively modest price for such a significant piece.

6. Visual Element:

   • The page includes a small black-and-white photograph of the sketch, labeled "HEAD OF CHRIST" by Rembrandt. The caption notes that the sketch "looked compellingly Rembrandt."

Layout and Design:

• The page is part of a larger clipping service document, with visible page numbers and markings (e.g., "52 JOS 2").
• The text is typed, and the layout is typical of a press clipping service, with clear headings and subheadings.
• The article is accompanied by a small photograph of the artwork, providing visual context to the written description.

Overall Impression:

The image captures a historical press clipping documenting a significant art acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum, highlighting the importance of the Rembrandt sketch and its journey from private ownership to a public institution. The inclusion of expert commentary and a visual representation of the artwork underscores the article's focus on art history and museum curation.

This image shows a scrapbook page containing press clippings related to Rembrandt's "Head of Christ" and its acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum. The clipping includes articles from publications: one heading is titled "Fogg Art Museum Acquires Rembrandt 'Head of Christ,'" and the other is labeled "Museums: The Fogg’s Find."

The text describes the painting and its significance as a representation of Christ in Rembrandt's works, mentioning its acquisition by the Harvard-affiliated museum for $35,000. An attached image labeled “Head of Christ” shows the artwork, though the image has been blurred.

There are visible marks indicating dates and circulation information, such as "The Pilot, Boston, Mass. Weekly Cir. 155,000" and "April 1965.” The page's surface appears aged, with visible wear and discoloration along the edges.

The image shows a newspaper page featuring an article about an art acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum. The article describes a "Head of Christ" by Rembrandt, which is described as one of the most sensitive visualizations of Christ in his work, having been acquired by the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University. The article gives details about the painting, including its history, its attribution to Rembrandt, and mentions contributions of several people or entities, such as Thomas Michell, to the museum's collection. There is also some discussion of the price and value of the piece, as well as comparisons to other works by Rembrandt.

The page header indicates that the article is from "The Pilot," a publication from Boston, Massachusetts, with a circulation mentioned as 155,000. The date of the article appears to be from April 1965.

The page is part of a press clipping service, as shown by the header at the top left, which includes the name "AMERICAN Press Clipping Service Inc." from New York, and indicates that the clipping is from "TIME MAGAZINE LIBRARY", dated April 16, 1965.

Generally, the page is showing signs of age, with an aged patina and yellowing, which suggests it has been preserved for a significant amount of time.

The image shows a newspaper clipping from "The Pilot," Boston, dated April 17, 1965. The headline reads "Fogg Art Museum Acquires Rembrandt 'Head of Christ'." The article discusses the acquisition of a painting titled "Head of Christ" by Rembrandt by the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. It describes the painting as a 10 by 7 7/8 inch oil sketch, recently acquired from the film actor Thomas Mitchell's estate.

The article highlights that "Head of Christ" is considered one of the most sensitive visualizations of Christ and discusses its authenticity and the scholarly debate around it. The painting was exhibited previously at Harvard and holds historical significance. It mentions a related sketch, described as being painted by Rembrandt in the late 1640s, and discusses aspects of the art and the artist’s intent.

Additionally, there are two black-and-white images in the clipping: one at the top center showing the "Head of Christ" painting, and another smaller image at the bottom left with a caption reading "'HEAD OF CHRIST' The sketch looked compellingly Rembrand."

There are also some other smaller clippings and press service tags surrounding the main article, including a mention of the American Press Clipping Service, Inc. with a date from April 16, 1965. The page is yellowed and shows signs of age, typical of old newspaper clippings.

This is a page from an old scrapbook or clipping book. It contains several newspaper clippings mounted on brown paper. The central clipping is about the Fogg Art Museum acquiring Rembrandt’s “Head of Christ.” At the top of that clipping is a black-and-white image of the painting, with a caption noting it as a Rembrandt work and mentioning its provenance (it was formerly owned by film actor Thomas Mitchell). The article goes on to discuss the painting’s significance. To the left there's another clipping from a press clipping service and a smaller photo labeled “HEAD OF CHRIST” with a caption. A stamp at the top edge indicates the clipping date (April 17, 1965) from The Pilot in Boston. The page shows aged, torn edges and multiple glued-in clippings.