Crystal Bridges continues to announce work it’s acquired to keep interest up in the when-will-it-ever-open? museum in Bentonville. Today, it’s John Singleton Copley’s “Mrs. Theodore Atkingson Jr.,” painted in 1765, and “Dress Impression with Wrinkled Cowl,” cast glass by Karen LaMonte, 2007. The reason for the pairing is obvious. In the 18th century piece the status and character lady is revealed by portrait, dress and symbols (a flying squirrel on a chain); in the 21st century piece the lady remains an enigma. La Monte combines casts — one of a dress and another of a female form — to create her work, here clearly referencing the Nike of Samothrace (included in images above). The woman of “Dress Impression”: No arms, no head, all physical beauty. Is Mrs. Atkinson a more powerful being?
Alice Walton, who has purchased all of the work for the museum privately and through a foundation, bought the Copley at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for $3.376 million. It was at this auction in November 2005 that Walton also purchased Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington (the Constable-Hamilton portrait) and Samuel F.B. Morse’s portrait of the Marquis of Lafayette. To browse the Sotheby catalogue and guess about what else from this sale she might have bought (Remington’s “Bronco Buster”? Thomas Hart Benton’s “Jon Boat: Buffalo River”?) go here.
1 year ago • Notes