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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1966-May 1973

ARCH.2003.36, Rendition: 805478

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This image shows an open scrapbook or notebook page, displaying several newspaper clippings and handwritten annotations, all related to art and archaeology exhibitions, primarily centered around the Frederick M. Watkins collection at the Fogg Art Museum (now part of the Harvard Art Museums) in 1973.

The page is structured as follows:


Top Section: The Boston Globe, Wednesday, February 14, 1973

This is a full article titled “Watkins collection of vases exhibited” by Robert Taylor.

  • Main Focus: The article discusses the exhibition of the Frederick M. Watkins collection, which includes Greek, Etruscan, and Roman objects — specifically mentioning a large red-figured krater (a ceremonial wine vessel) from 5th century B.C. Greece, attributed to the Kleophrades Painter.
  • Key Event: It highlights the controversial sale of a signed Euphronios vase to the Metropolitan Museum for $1 million plus, which Watkins had bequeathed to the Fogg. The article frames this as a “suicidal move” that undermines the effectiveness of institutional classical scholarship.
  • Historical Context: It notes that Watkins, a “distinguished Harvard career as a political scientist,” was also a scholar whose collection included coins, statuettes, and rare drawings — such as early works of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.
  • Accompanying Image: A large photograph of a Winged Mirror Caryatid, 550–525 B.C., Greek, possibly Southern Italian Tarentine, from the Watkins bequest. The figure is standing with hands on hips, bearing a horizontal mirror on its head, flanked by large wings.
  • Handwritten Note: A yellow sticky note with “Fred Barron, The Boston Phoenix, 2/20/73” is affixed to the lower-left corner of this clipping, indicating another source or commentator.

Bottom Section

This area contains three smaller clippings and handwritten annotations:

  1. Left: “Cruising” (Boston Phoenix, 2/20/73)

    • A brief notice about a free lecture series at the Fogg Art Museum. Professor Jean Bruneau will speak on “‘Mallarmé’ and the Visual Aspects of Literature” on February 21st at 4 pm in the Christian Room, followed by a reception.
    • Handwritten above it: “Fred Barron, The Boston Phoenix, 2/20/73” — same as the sticky note.
  2. Center: “Aphrodite with Dove, ca. 450 B.C.”

    • Photo of a Greek bronze statuette from the Watkins collection.
    • Caption: “Greek bronze in the Frederick M. Watkins Collection at the Fogg.”
    • Handwritten note below: “2/28/73 Harvard Univ. Gazette” — indicating the source and date.
  3. Right: “A remarkable collection of drawings…”

    • Article from the Harvard University Gazette (2/28/73) about an exhibit of drawings at the Fogg. Highlights newly discovered early works by Ingres, found in his birthplace in Montauban, France, including a bust of Apollo Belvedere.
    • Accompanying image: A black-and-white photo of a marble bust (likely Apollo Belvedere or a similar classical head).
    • Handwritten note below: “2/28/73 Harvard Univ. Gazette.”

Overall Context:

The scrapbook page documents public and academic responses to exhibitions of the Frederick M. Watkins collection in early 1973. It reflects contemporary debates on museum ethics, provenance, and the value of classical antiquities — particularly the controversial sale of the Euphronios vase. The handwritten notes suggest this was compiled by someone (possibly a researcher or journalist) tracking coverage across multiple publications: The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix, and the Harvard University Gazette.

This is not just a casual collection of clippings — it’s a curated record preserving the scholarly, cultural, and even political context surrounding the display and dispersal of a significant private collection of classical art in the early 1970s.

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

The image shows a page from a newspaper, specifically from "The Boston Globe" dated Wednesday, February 14, 1973. The page is titled "Watkins collection of vases exhibited" and is written by Robert Taylor. The article discusses Frederick M. Watkins' collection of Greek vases, particularly a large red-figured vase or calyx krater used by Greeks of the 5th Century B.C. as a ceremonial wine vessel. The article highlights the importance of Watkins' collection and includes a photograph of a winged mirror caryatid from the Watkins bequest at the Fogg.

Below the article, there are three smaller images with captions and dates. The first is a photograph of an Aphrodite with Dove, a Greek bronze in the Frederick M. Watkins Collection at the Fogg. The second is a photograph of an Apollo Belvedere, a marble statue, also from the Watkins Collection. The third is a photograph of a marble head of a man, which is part of the Watkins collection. These images are accompanied by handwritten notes that seem to be dates and sources, possibly from Harvard University Gazette, as indicated by the handwriting at the bottom right.

The page also includes a notice for a lecture series at the Fogg Art Museum on February 21st, with the topic "Mallarmé and the Visual Aspects of Literature" by Professor Jean Bruneau. The lecture is scheduled for 4 pm in the Christian Room of the Fogg.

The overall appearance of the page suggests it is a page from a scrapbook or a collection of clippings, as there are handwritten notes and stickers indicating dates and sources. The newspaper article and the photographs of the artifacts provide a glimpse into the exhibition of the Watkins collection and the art world's interest in Greek vases and sculptures during that time.

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

This image is a newspaper clipping from The Boston Globe dated Wednesday, February 14, 1973, page 18. The main article is titled "Watkins collection of vases exhibited" by Robert Taylor. It discusses the Watkins collection of Greek vases and other artifacts, including a large red-figured vase or calyx krater used by Greeks of the 5th century B.C. as a ceremonial wine vessel, attributed to the Kleophrades Painter.

The article mentions the collection's importance and the historical context of its acquisition, including the role of Frederick M. Watkins and the Fogg Museum. It also touches on the price of the Euphronios vase and the Met's decision to sell its coin collection.

There are two images in the article. The first is a Winged Mirror Caryatid from 550-525 B.C., Greek school, probably Southern Italian Tarentine, from the Frederick M. Watkins bequest at the Fogg. The second image is of Aphrodite with Dove, ca. 450 B.C., a Greek bronze in the Frederick M. Watkins Collection at the Fogg.

Additionally, there is a smaller article titled "Cruising" by Fred Barron from The Boston Phoenix, dated 2/23/73. It announces a free lecture at the Fogg Art Museum on February 21st by Professor Jean Bruneau on "Mallarmé and the Visual Aspects of Literature."

There is also a note about a remarkable collection of drawings by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, ten of which were recently discovered by Phyllis Hattis in Ingres' birthplace in Montaubun, France, and never before on public view. This one is identified as "Apollo Belvedere."

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image shows a newspaper clipping, which is a page from a newspaper. It features an article about an exhibition of vases, along with a few photographs of the vases. The clipping is attached to a larger piece of paper, which appears to be a scrapbook page. There are other clippings attached to the page, including a photograph of a statue and a drawing of a woman. The clipping is from the Boston Globe, dated February 14, 1973.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image appears to be a page from a book or magazine featuring an article about the Watkins Collection of vases. The article discusses the collection's exhibition and the significance of the pieces, particularly the Kleopatra krater. The page includes a photograph of the Kleopatra krater and mentions the collection's acquisition by the Fogg Art Museum. There are also references to other notable vases in the collection, such as the Euphronios vase and the Dionysus krater. The article highlights the historical and artistic importance of these ancient Greek vases.

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

The image shows a page from a newspaper or publication dated Wednesday, February 14, 1973, titled "The Boston Globe." The page features two distinct sections:

Top Section:

  • Headline: "Watkins collection of vases exhibited"
  • Byline: Robert Taylor
  • Content: The article discusses the exhibition of the Watkins collection of ancient Greek vases at the Fogg Art Museum. It highlights the historical and cultural significance of the collection, mentioning notable pieces such as:
    • A Winged Mirror Caryatid from the Italian school, dated approximately 550-525 B.C., attributed to the Greek artist Frederick M. Watkins.
    • A Kleohedraes Krater from 1941, which was previously part of the Fogg's collection.
    • The article also touches on the ethical and historical context surrounding the acquisition of these artifacts, including the fall of the Fogg Art Museum's director and the controversy over the collection's provenance.

Bottom Section:

  • Headline: "Cruising"
  • Content: This section appears to be a separate news item or announcement, likely related to an event or lecture. It mentions:
    • A lecture titled "Aspects of Literature" by Professor Jean Hermann at the Fogg Art Museum on February 21 at 4 p.m. in the Chrysler Room.
    • The lecture will be followed by an informal reception, and the public is invited.

Visual Elements:

  • Left Side: An illustration of a Winged Mirror Caryatid, a classical Greek sculpture, is prominently displayed. Below the image, there is a caption providing details about the artifact, including its origin, date, and attribution to Frederick M. Watkins.
  • Right Side: The article text is arranged in a standard newspaper column format, with dense paragraphs discussing the exhibition and related topics.

Additional Notes:

  • There are handwritten annotations on the page, including:
    • "Fred Baron / The Boston Phoenix" and a date (2/20/73) in the top left corner.
    • "Harvard Univ. Gazette" written in the bottom right corner, along with a date (2/28/73).
    • These annotations suggest the page may have been clipped or saved for reference, possibly by a student or researcher at Harvard University.

Overall, the image captures a historical newspaper clipping focused on an art exhibition and a related lecture, with additional personal or academic annotations.

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

This image captures a scrapbook page that contains clippings from articles, notes, and pictures focused on artifacts and art collections displayed at the Fogg Art Museum.

  • Top-left corner: A black-and-white newspaper clipping titled "Watkins collection of vases exhibited" written by Robert Taylor, dated February 14, 1973, from The Boston Globe. It features an image of a bronze artifact titled "Winged Mirror Carried, 550-535 B.C., Greek" and discusses Greek vases and other items in Frederick M. Watkins’ collection.

  • Middle-left: A small clipping titled Cruising from The Boston Phoenix, dated February 20, 1973, highlights an upcoming free lecture at the Fogg Museum on February 21st about the connection between Mallarmé and the visual aspects of literature.

  • Center-right: A small vertical newspaper segment showcasing a black-and-white photograph of a sculpture labeled "Aphrodite with Dove, ca. 450 B.C., Greek bronze." It lists the origin of the piece and its connection to the Frederick M. Watkins Collection. The date, February 28, 1973, and a note mentioning Harvard Univ. Gazette are written alongside.

  • Bottom-right: A clipped article featuring a description of a selection of drawings and works of art at the Fogg Museum, focusing on early works of antiquity and mythology. It is accompanied by an image of an ancient Greek drawing, with handwritten notes indicating a date (2/28/73) and attribution to the Harvard Univ. Gazette.

These clippings seem carefully curated, potentially documenting exhibitions and events at Harvard’s Fogg Museum related to ancient and classical art.

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

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image is of a page from a scrapbook or collection of newspaper clippings and photographs. The page is labeled "16," indicating it is from a larger book or compilation. The contents of this page mainly focus on art and artifacts.

On the left side, there is a newspaper clipping with a photograph of a statue with the caption "WINGED NIKE (Victory) SAMOTHRACE, 190-185 B.C." and a description below it mentioning Frederic M. Watkins bequest at a museum. Below this clipping is a handwritten note that reads "Fred Brown, The Boston Phoenix, 2/9/73". Further down on the left side is another section titled "Cruising" with details about a lecture at an art museum that appears to be related to marine subjects.

The right side of the scrapbook page includes multiple clippings about vases and possibly an exhibition or collection. There are images of a sculpture and a portion of a vase, each with labels indicating the dates when they were added to the scrapbook.

The materials affixed to this page come from various sources, one of which is "The Boston Globe Wednesday, February 14, 1973." Handwritten notes on the clippings provide context and dates for when they were collected or relevant events occurred. The page represents a curated personal or professional interest in art and historical artifacts.

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

The image is a scrapbook or archival page featuring several newspaper clippings related to art and exhibitions. The page appears to be from the early 1970s, as the dates on the clippings range from 1973.

  1. The largest clipping is from "The Boston Globe" dated Wednesday, February 14, 1973. The headline reads "Watkins collection of vases exhibited" by Robert Taylor. It includes an image of a winged mirror Caryatid (circa 550-525 B.C., Greek school, probably Southern Italian Tarentine) from the Frederick M. Watkins bequest at the Fogg Museum. The article discusses the significance of the collection, mentioning ancient Greek vases and the Fogg Museum.

  2. Below this clipping is a smaller piece titled "Cruising" from "The Boston Phoenix" dated 2/20/73. It announces a free lecture series at the Fogg Art Museum focusing on Mallarmé and the Visual Aspects of Literature, with a lecture followed by an informal reception.

  3. To the right, there are two smaller newspaper clippings from the "Harvard Univ. Gazette" dated 2/23/73.

    • The first clipping features a photograph of a statue titled "Aphrodite with Dove, ca. 450 B.C.," a Greek bronze in the Frederick M. Watkins Collection at the Fogg.
    • The second clipping discusses a collection of 11 early works of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, recently discovered by Phyllis Hattis in Ingres' birthplace in Montauban, France. It includes a blurred or obscured image of a sculpture or artwork titled "Apollo Belvedere."

The overall theme of the page revolves around classical art, museum exhibitions, and scholarly lectures from the early 1970s.