Archives Scrapbooks

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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806810

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

This image shows a printed newspaper article, titled “Vermeule, a scholarly ‘clown’”, mounted on a tan, three-hole punched paper folder against a plain gray background.

The article appears to be a profile of Cornelius C. Vermeule III, described as a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA). It blends humor with scholarly respect, portraying him as an eccentric, deeply knowledgeable figure who brings a lively, unconventional energy to the museum world.

Key elements of the article:

  • Headline & Subhead: The title uses the term “scholarly ‘clown’,” suggesting a playful contrast between Vermeule’s academic rigor and his flamboyant personality.
  • Content: The article describes Vermeule’s quirky activities — retrieving a corroded bronze statue, eating a “submarine sandwich” with his “family” (his staff), and collaborating with colleagues on publications. It mentions his daughter Betsy, son Adrian, and assistant curator Mary Comstock.
  • Anecdotes: There’s a vignette about Kleanthi Raffan, a Greek-American belly dancer who moonlights at the museum and performs at cocktail parties, with Vermeule enjoying the spectacle.
  • Professional Background: It details his early life — born into a globe-trotting entrepreneur family, studied classics at Harvard, served as an interpreter in the Philippines during WWII, and later obtained a PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of London.
  • Philosophy: He is portrayed as passionate about making art accessible (“The remedy is a therapeutic walk around the museum sculpture garden”) and committed to reinvigorating museum spaces (“A total re-organization of the galleries would take years...”).

Visual Details:

  • The article is printed in narrow columns of black text on white paper.
  • The paper is slightly curled at the top, suggesting it might have been saved or stored.
  • A thin, vertical crease runs down the left edge, implying it may have been part of a larger newspaper sheet or magazine.
  • The tan folder it’s mounted on is simple, possibly archival, with three clean punch holes visible on the left.

Overall Tone and Impression:

The article is lively, witty, and admiring, painted as a human-interest piece that doesn’t shy away from the subject’s idiosyncrasies. Vermeule emerges not just as an expert curator, but as a passionate, theatrical, and deeply engaged steward of classical art — a “scholarly clown” who knows how to make history come alive.


Note: This article is likely from the Boston Globe, and was published around 1972, when Vermeule was curator of Classical Art at the MFA. It reflects his well-known reputation for colorful commentary and public engagement.

This image captures a moment in time when museums were beginning to think more creatively about accessibility and audience — and Vermeule was at the forefront, blending scholarship with showmanship.

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

The image shows a section of a document or a printed article that appears to be attached to a beige-colored folder or binder. The article is titled "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" and is continued from page DI, as indicated at the top of the page. The text discusses Cornelius Vermeule, who is described as a scholar and curator of classical art. The article includes several paragraphs detailing various aspects of Vermeule's work, personal life, and views on art and museums. The text references his interactions, the environment of the museum, and his thoughts on the role of museums in society. The document seems to be part of a larger collection or archive, as indicated by the hole punch at the top left corner, which suggests it is intended for binding. The background of the image suggests it is displayed on a flat surface, possibly for reference or display.

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

The image shows a newspaper clipping placed on a beige-colored folder. The clipping is titled "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" and appears to be a continuation from a previous page, as indicated by the text "(Continued from Page D1)" near the top. The article discusses Cornelius Vermeule, a curator at a museum, describing his scholarly yet whimsical personality and activities. It mentions his interactions with museum staff, his knowledge of art and history, and his efforts to make the museum more accessible to the public. The text is dense and covers topics such as museum renovations, art collections, and Vermeule's unique approach to his work. The clipping is secured in the folder with a white paper partially visible at the top.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image shows a piece of paper with text, possibly from a newspaper, placed on top of a folder with a brown paper cover. The text is written in black ink and is placed on the top left side of the folder. The folder has a hole on the left side, probably for a binder. The folder is placed on top of a gray surface, which could be a table. The paper is folded in half, and the text is written on the left side of the fold. The text appears to be a news article, with the title "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" at the top. The article is about a person named Vermeule, who is described as a "scholarly clown" and is known for their unique approach to their work. The article discusses Vermeule's background, their interests, and their contributions to their field. The text is written in a formal and informative tone, and it provides a detailed description of Vermeule's personality and work.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

A page from a book or magazine with the title "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" is printed on a white page. The text is written in black font and is divided into two columns. The text reads, "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" in the first column, and "On a recent day, Vermeule visited the small bronze statue mounted on a wall around the museum sculpture garden." The page is placed on a brown cardboard with a hole in the center.

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

The image shows a printed page from a publication or document titled "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'", which appears to be an article or essay. The page is displayed on a wooden board or mount, likely part of an archival or display setup. The text is arranged in a standard newspaper or magazine column format, with justified alignment and a serif font.

Key Observations:

  1. Title and Context:

    • The title, "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'", suggests the subject is a person named Vermuele, who is portrayed as a scholar with a playful or unconventional personality. The article seems to explore the juxtaposition of academic rigor and humor or eccentricity.
  2. Content Overview:

    • The text discusses Vermuele’s interactions with various individuals and institutions, including museums, galleries, and academic settings.
    • It mentions Vermuele’s role as a consultant or advisor, particularly in the context of classical art and museum collections.
    • The article references Vermuele’s family, including his daughter, Adrian, and his collaboration with a computer memory company, showcasing a blend of scholarly and modern interests.
    • There is a mention of a performance or demonstration involving a Greek-American belly dancer, Kleanthi Ruffan, indicating Vermuele’s involvement in or commentary on unconventional or interdisciplinary events.
  3. Visual Layout:

    • The page is clean and well-organized, with text divided into paragraphs. There are no images or illustrations visible in this portion of the page.
    • The text appears to be part of a larger article, as indicated by the phrase "(Continued from Page D1)" at the top, suggesting this is a continuation of a previous page.
  4. Mounting and Display:

    • The page is affixed to a wooden board, which is part of a larger display or archival system. The board has a neutral, warm-toned finish and includes visible holes, possibly for hanging or organizing purposes.
    • The wooden board is mounted against a plain, light gray background, indicating it might be part of an exhibit, archive, or educational display.

Interpretation:

The image depicts a page from an article or essay that critiques or profiles a scholar named Vermuele, highlighting their unique blend of academic expertise and playful, unconventional behavior. The setting suggests the page is part of an archival or exhibition display, possibly in a museum, library, or academic setting, where the document is preserved and presented for viewing. The wooden mounting implies an emphasis on preservation and organization, typical of archival or curatorial contexts.

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

The image shows a newspaper clipping on a piece of brown paper, with the title "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" at the top. The article discusses the life and career of Cornelius Vermeule, an art historian and curator.

  • Newspaper Clipping
    • The clipping is from a newspaper, likely from the 1980s or 1990s.
    • It features a large headline that reads "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" in bold font.
    • The article is written in a formal tone and discusses Vermeule's background, education, and career as an art historian and curator.
    • The article also mentions Vermeule's personality and his sense of humor, describing him as a "scholarly clown."
  • Brown Paper
    • The clipping is placed on a piece of brown paper, which appears to be a scrapbook or notebook page.
    • The paper has a hole punched in it, suggesting that it may have been used to store the clipping in a binder or folder.
  • Background
    • The background of the image is a plain gray color, which helps to highlight the clipping and the paper it is placed on.

Overall, the image provides a glimpse into the life and career of Cornelius Vermeule, as well as the style and content of newspapers from the 1980s and 1990s.

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

The image depicts a newspaper clipping titled "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" placed on a brown paper folder. The clipping is positioned vertically within the folder, with its top edge aligned with the top of the folder and its bottom edge extending below the bottom of the folder. The article appears to be discussing the life and career of Cornelius Vermeule III, an American art historian and curator who served as the director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston from 1971 to 1987.

The clipping is accompanied by a white piece of paper folded over the top of the folder, which may have been used to mark the location of the clipping or to protect it from damage. The background of the image is a plain gray color, which helps to focus attention on the clipping and the folder.

Overall, the image suggests that the clipping is being stored or archived in the folder, possibly as part of a larger collection of documents or papers related to Vermeule's life and work.

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

The image depicts a newspaper clipping titled "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'" on a brown folder, with the top of a white sheet of paper visible above it. The clipping is positioned on the left side of the folder, which has a hole punched in its left margin and is set against a gray background.

Key Features:

  • Newspaper Clipping:
    • Title: "Vermeule, a scholarly 'clown'"
    • Text: A lengthy article discussing Cornelius Vermeule III, a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
    • Layout: Three-column format with a continuation notice at the top indicating that the article is continued from page 20
  • Folder:
    • Color: Brown
    • Material: Cardboard or paperboard
    • Hole: Punched in the left margin, suggesting that the folder is part of a binder or filing system
  • Background:
    • Color: Gray
    • Texture: Smooth, possibly a digital or printed background

Overall Impression:

The image appears to be a scanned or photographed document, possibly from an archive or library collection. The presence of a hole in the folder and the gray background suggests that the image may have been created for archival or research purposes. The article itself provides insight into the life and work of Cornelius Vermeule III, a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and offers a glimpse into the world of art history and museum curation.