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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1966-May 1973

ARCH.2003.36, Rendition: 805424

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

This image displays an open scrapbook, with a newspaper or magazine article titled “The American way with art” by Joseph T. Butler, American Editor of The Connoisseur, pasted onto the right-hand page.


Key Features of the Article:

  • Title: The American way with art
  • Author: Joseph T. Butler
  • Publication: The Connoisseur (likely a special supplement or section)
  • Subject: Focuses on American Art at Harvard, specifically an exhibition at the Fogg Art Museum showcasing a collection assembled over four centuries.
  • Content Summary:
    • The exhibition aimed not to present a historical survey, but to display select works from the Fogg’s own holdings and those from other parts of Harvard.
    • Included 196 objects: paintings, drawings, prints, furniture, and silver. Half were from the Fogg’s own collection.
    • Notable works mentioned: a portrait of Dr. John Clark, c. 1664 (owned by the Countway Library); works by Motherwell, Louis, Pollock, and Noland.
    • A highlight was a selection of paintings of American Indian life from the Peabody Collection.
    • Also mentioned: a copy by John Trumbull of Van Dyck’s Cardinal Bentivoglio, and a Smibert copy of the same portrait.

Images within the Article:

Three black-and-white reproductions of artworks accompany the text:

  1. Top Left: A pen-and-ink drawing of View of Harvard Yard by Alvan Fisher (c. 1821), from the Fogg Art Museum.
  2. Bottom Left: A sketch or drawing of a man’s head and shoulders (possibly a self-portrait or bust study).
  3. Right Side: A line drawing or architectural plan, possibly of a building or room layout, labeled as a “Composition, oil on canvas, 1952” by Franz Josef Kline (though this attribution is likely incorrect — Franz Kline was a 20th-century abstract expressionist; this drawing style doesn’t match his work — possibly a misattribution or different artist).

Handwritten Notes:

In the top right corner of the article, someone has written in pen:

Friends of Fogg Sept. 1972

This suggests the article may have been saved by a member or supporter of the Fogg Museum circa September 1972.


Contextual Details:

  • The page number 54 is visible at the bottom of the article.
  • The scrapbook page has aged, beige-toned paper with tape or mounting adhesive visible around the edges.
  • To the far right, a small, dark woodcut-style image (possibly of a forest scene) is also pasted, labeled “German Master” underneath.
  • The left page of the open book contains a clipping about “N.E. Endowment” and funding ($500,000) for arts, referencing Nancy Hanks and grants to Boston and Cambridge institutions like the Fogg.

Overall Impression:

This is a well-preserved historical artifact — a page from a collector’s or curator’s scrapbook documenting a significant 1970s exhibition at the Harvard Fogg Art Museum. It reflects the scholarly and public interest in American art collections within academia at the time, and offers a snapshot of art historiography and museum practices of that era.


Note on Attribution: While the article attributes the abstract drawing to Franz Josef Kline (1952), this is likely an error since Franz Kline (1910–1962) was known for large-scale black-and-white abstract expressionist paintings, not architectural or figurative drawings like the one shown. It may refer to a different artist, or be a misattribution by the original author or editor.

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

The image appears to be a scanned or photographed page from a publication, likely an article or magazine. It is titled "The American way with art" and is authored by Joseph T. Butler, who is identified as the American Editor of The Connoisseur. The article discusses the exhibition of American art at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, highlighting the rich collection assembled over four centuries.

The page contains several black-and-white illustrations, including:

  1. A landscape drawing or sketch, possibly depicting a view of a campus or urban area.
  2. A portrait drawing of a man with a bald head and a serious expression.
  3. A floor plan or architectural drawing, showing the layout of a building or room.

The page also includes a list of artwork references, such as:

  1. Alvan Fisher, "View of Harvard Yard," pen and ink on white paper, c. 1821.
  2. John Trumbull, "Portrait of Cardinal John Guido Bentivoglio," after Smibert's copy of Van Dyke's portrait, oil on canvas.
  3. Franz Josef Kline, "Composition," oil on canvas, 1952.

The publication date mentioned at the top right corner of the page is November 1, 1972. Additionally, there are some handwritten notes at the top of the page, including the words "Friends of Fogg" and the date "1972," which might indicate the ownership or association of the publication.

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

This image shows a page from a publication titled "The American way with art" by Joseph T. Butler, who is identified as the American Editor of The Connoisseur. The article discusses American Art at Harvard, specifically an exhibition at the Fogg Art Museum. The exhibition aimed to showcase the richness of the university's art holdings collected over four centuries, including paintings, drawings, prints, furniture, and silver.

The page includes several images:

  1. A pen and ink drawing by Alvan Fisher titled "View of Harvard Yard," dated around 1821.
  2. A portrait by John Trumbull titled "Portrait of Cardinal John Guido Bentivoglio," which is a copy of Van Dyke's portrait.
  3. An abstract composition by Franz Josef Kline, dated 1952.

The article also mentions other significant works in the collection, such as "Concealed Enemy" by Caleb Bingham, a portrait of Wan-ce-ton by Catlin, and the Charles Bird King portrait "Little Elk."

The page is labeled "Friends of Fogg Sept. 1972" at the top, indicating it may be from a newsletter or magazine associated with the Fogg Art Museum. There are additional notes and markings on the page, suggesting it might be part of a scrapbook or a collection of articles. The background shows other pages and images, including a section about New England museums and a piece titled "German Master."

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

A page of a book with the title "The American way with art" is placed on a brown surface. The text is written in black font, and a few images are printed on the page. The text is divided into sections, with the first section starting with "Harvard University recently mounted a show at its Fogg Art Museum." The other half were down by parts of the university and the exhibition ranged from the portrait of Dr. John Clark.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image shows a spread from a magazine or journal. On the left side, there is a text titled "The American way with art" by Joseph T. Butler. Below it, there is a table with the heading "American Art at Harvard" and a list of artworks and artists. On the right side, there is a black-and-white image of a drawing of a man's face. The image has a vintage look and feel, with a brownish tint and some wear and tear.

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

The image depicts an open book, specifically a page from a publication titled "The American way with art" by Joseph T. Butler, American Editor of The Connoisseur. The page is from the year 1972, as indicated by a handwritten note at the top of the page that reads "Friends of Fogg Sept. 1972."

Key Details:

  1. Title and Author:

    • The article is titled "The American way with art" and is authored by Joseph T. Butler, identified as the American Editor of The Connoisseur.
  2. Content Overview:

    • The article discusses an exhibition titled "American Art at Harvard," which was recently mounted at the Fogg Art Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
    • The exhibition aimed to showcase the history of American art over four centuries, featuring a diverse collection of objects including paintings, drawings, prints, furniture, and silver.
    • The collection includes works from many parts of the university, with half of the displayed items being part of the Fogg's own collection.
  3. Exhibition Highlights:

    • The exhibition featured a range of works, from portraits by notable artists such as John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart to more recent works by artists like John Singer Sargent and Louis Pollock.
    • A highlight of the exhibition was a selection of paintings by John Singer Sargent, who had served as an important figure in the Harvard art department in the late 19th century.
  4. Illustrations:

    • The page includes several illustrations:
      • A small sketch or drawing of a figure, likely an artist or subject of one of the artworks discussed.
      • A floor plan or layout of a room, possibly depicting the exhibition space or a specific gallery.
      • A photograph or reproduction of a painting labeled "German Master," which appears to be a work from the Fogg's collection.
  5. Handwritten Notes:

    • At the top of the page, there is handwritten text that reads "Friends of Fogg Sept. 1972," suggesting that this page may have been part of a program, catalog, or scrapbook related to an event or exhibition organized by the Friends of the Fogg Art Museum in September 1972.
  6. Page Number:

    • The page is numbered 54, indicating its position within the publication.

Context:

The image reflects a historical document discussing American art and its representation in academic and museum settings. The inclusion of detailed descriptions, illustrations, and handwritten notes suggests that this page may have been part of a catalog, exhibition program, or archival material related to the Fogg Art Museum and its role in promoting American art. The mention of the Friends of the Fogg further indicates a connection to a supportive or organizing body for the museum's activities.

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

This image appears to display a printed page with text and illustrations, possibly from a book, magazine, or journal. Here's a detailed description:

  1. Main Header:

    • The top of the page has the title "The American way with art" written in bold. Below the title is the author’s name mentioned as "Joseph T. Butler, American Editor of The Connoisseur."
  2. Content Description:

    • The page appears to discuss American art, specifically in relation to Harvard University and art exhibitions.
    • Sections describe the purpose and content of specific collections, with references to drawings, paintings, and museum objects.
  3. Illustrations:

    • Toward the bottom, the page includes several drawings or sketches. These are numbered and identified with captions, referencing artists and their works.
    • The artworks featured include a "View of Harvard Yard," "Portrait of Cardinal Jules Gale Benevides," and others.
  4. Annotations:

    • Handwritten text at the top of the page says "Friends of Fogg Subt 1972," possibly referencing the publication or a group associated with the Fogg Museum.
  5. Surrounding Content:

    • The printed page is mounted onto a scrapbook or archival sheet alongside clipped articles. On the right edge, another article is visible, with parts of architectural designs and text peeking through.

This image seems to preserve historical content related to American art, presenting textual and visual elements for educational or archival use.

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image shows a page from a publication or a book, with the title "The American way with art" by Joseph T. Butler, an American Editor of The Connoisseur. It appears to be an article discussing American Art at Harvard, referencing the Fogg Art Museum and mentioning aspects such as 17th-century windows, architectural fragments, ironwork, furniture, and silver.

On the left side of the page, there is a newspaper clipping with the heading "N.E." and mentions "$500,000", but the complete context is not visible. Below that is a reproduction of an illustration or diagram with a caption numbered "54," which is obscured due to redaction.

To the right of the main article, there are partial views of what seem to be additional articles or images, including what might be references to artworks or artifacts and a mention of "November 8, 1972" at the top right, suggesting the possible date of publication. There's a clipped piece of text at the top right corner labeled "Friends of Fogg Sept 1972," indicating the article or book may be linked to the Fogg Museum and an event or publication in September 1972.

Overall, the page seems to deal with topics of historical significance related to American art and its exhibition, particularly in the context of Harvard's Fogg Art Museum.

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

The image is a photograph of a scrapbook or album page featuring a newspaper or magazine clipping titled "The American way with art," written by Joseph T. Butler, the American Editor of The Connoisseur. The article discusses American art at Harvard University and the Fogg Art Museum. There are three sketches or drawings accompanying the article that appear to be artworks in the Fogg Museum collection. A handwritten note at the top of the clipping reads "Friends of Fogg Sept 1, 1972." The clipping is affixed to the right-side page of the scrapbook, with other newspaper clippings partially visible on the left and right edges. The overall tone is scholarly, focusing on American art history and museum collections.

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

  • It’s a scrapbook-style page with a clipped magazine article mounted on brown paper.
  • The main clipping is titled “The American way with art” and is written by Joseph T. Butler, American Editor of The Connoisseur.
  • There’s a handwritten note along the top edge of the clipping, roughly reading “Friends of Fog… Sept 1972.”
  • The page includes a few small black-and-white illustrations or diagrams (landscape/architectural sketches and a floor-plan style drawing).
  • In the margin on the right, you can glimpse a tiny photo or figure and a date that looks like November 1, 1972.
  • The overall look is vintage, with a clean, serif headline and dense blocks of text typical of a mid-20th‑century art article.