Exhibitions: Medieval Art Exhibit

November 14, 1935: In his report to the Governing Committee of the Brooklyn Museums meeting November 13, the Director, Mr. Philip N. Youtz emphasized three aspects of current activity at the Brooklyn Central Museum; an unusual series of exhibitions; further progress in the reconditioning and remodeling of the building and grounds, and public interest in the new educational program.

An exhibition of mediaeval objects will open on December 6 inaugurating the Museum’s new Gallery of Mediaeval Art. One entire gallery will be devoted to Byzantine art. Approximately 100,000 persons visited the exhibition of Spanish paintings installed by the Department of Renaissance Art. The Department of Contemporary Art has installed an exhibition throughout November. In the some department the exhibition of oil paintings by living artists has been followed by a collection of paintings and drawings of natural history objects, demonstrating the artistic and exhibition value of scientific illustration. This in turn will be followed by an exhibition of humor in art. The Curator of Prints, Mr. Carl O. Schniewind, who recently succeeded Miss Susan A. Hutchinson, has arranged the first comprehensive; exhibition of the prints of Henri Matisse, now on view.

The Education Office of the Museum reports can attendance of 11,320, in eight classes and an attendance of 25,680 at showings of moving pictures. There has been an unusually heavy demand this year for loan of films. The educational work for adults including discussion groups, work with teachers, and talks on the Spanish exhibition. Total attendance during October 91,013.

The new entrance and entrance hall have proved a hospitable and practical improvement. Large crowds can be handled without congestion and the hall makes a first impression of dignity. It is well adapted for exhibition material. Trustees and members of the staff of other museums have commented on the wel1 diffused light and the simplicity and restraint of the entire treatment. The public has made heavy use of the new information and sales desk. The edition of the catalogue of Spanish paintings has been practically exhausted. The October Quarterly, designed as an informal handbook of the Galleries of Prehistoric and Primitive art, sold out in on edition larger than usual and has been reprinted. Orders for photographs of objects in the museum collection have been heavy.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 113. View Original

November 14, 1935: The Park Department has continued the work of landscaping the exterior on the Eastern Parkway side and has prepared along Washington Avenue to improve the east grounds and façade and make connection with the Botanic Garden. Galleries to house Oriental art are being redesigned for early opening. The new Mediaeval Hall has been completed. The new special exhibition gallery was further improved before the opening of the Czechoslovak exhibition. Work has been started on the rearrangement of the Library and Print Department under the direction of Mr. Schniewind. The Building Superintendent has made to complete check-up of the condition of the plant and completed many essential replacements and repairs. New fire lines, water and gas lines have been installed and much of the old piping replaced. Much of this equipment had been in service for thirty years. Preparation of galleries for the current exhibitions and for the scheduled Mediaeval and Oriental exhibitions and the completing of offices for the staff have also been under the direction of the Superintendent of the building. The total effect is to transform rapidly an obsolete museum plant into a thoroughly modern one equipped to give maximum service to the public.

Recent accessions include: the Marco Polo Unit of the Brooklyn Museum School Service Charts, completed under the direction of Dr. Herbert J. Spinden; objects from the Holmes Expedition to Kish, near Bagdad; Luristan bronzes dating from 700 to 400 B.C. lent by the Persian Institute; lantern slides on Egyptology required through Professor Capart; objects of Mediaeval art lent by collectors and illustrating the prestige of the church during the Middle Ages and the devotion of the arts and crafts to this institution: XVIth Century wood panel of the Suabian School representing the Adoration of the Magi; and paintings, sculptures prints and work in other media lent for special exhibitions.

The schedule of three symphony concerts a week and daily organ recitals has been resumed. Dr. Spinden has just returned from n lecture was "The Civilization of the Mayas," a subject the new galleries on the first floor Horace Evans, one of the leading oraniologists to examine the Egyptian skulls in the Henry De Morgan Collection of the Museum. Mr. Marvin Ross of the Walters Gallery, Baltimore, Advisory Curator of Mediaeval Art of the Brooklyn Museum, will cooperate with Miss Krehbiel and Miss Chase in arrangement of the Mediaeval Hall.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 114-5. View Original 1 . View Original 2

December 6, 1935: Among those present at the opening of the new Gallery of Medieval Art and the exhibition of the Antioch Treasure at the Brooklyn Museum on Friday, December 6 were:

Mr. and Mrs. Fahim Kouchakji
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Colton
Mrs. Robert F. Lee
Mr. John Tuthill
Dr. Frank Curran
Mr. John Hines
Mrs. Robert Henry
Mr. and Mrs. Milton Horn
Mrs. Grant H. Code
Mrs. Kelly
Mrs. Morrin
Mr. E. Hillman
Miss Harriet B. Meyer
Mrs. Schniewind
Mrs. Carl Schniewind
Mrs. John Marshall
Mrs. George Auld
Miss Elizabeth Auld
Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Blum
Mr. E. Silberman
Mr. A. Silberman
Mr. Frank Gardner Hale
Mrs. Frederick Sweet
Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie
Mr. Henry Grant
Mr. H. David Hill
Miss Anne Hunt
Dr. Luke Kennedy
Mrs. John Leech
Mrs. Frederick K. Middlebrook
Mrs. Carl p. Huff
Mrs. Frederick C. Fleming
Mrs. R. R. Belknap
Miss Prudence Gager
Dr. and Mrs. Stuart C. Gager
Mrs. Hermann de Wetter
Mr. Allen Porter
Mrs. George Cannon
Mrs. Henry Rice
Mrs. John Laud
Mrs. Keck
Mrs. Lewis H. Porter
Dr. W. W. Share
Miss Mildred Woods
Mr. John Marshall
Mr. Stevenson
Mr. Walter H. Crittenden
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip N. Youtz
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Chase
Mrs. Lewis W. Francis
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Schoonhoven
Mrs. Ralph Root
Madame Weidel
Mr. Edward Helwig
Mr. Burke
Mrs. Beryl Rogers McClaskey

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 119. View Original

December 6, 1935: The new Gallery of Medieval Art at the Brooklyn Museum was opened this afternoon (December 6) with a reception and private view for members of the Museum and guests. It will be open to the public on Saturday. At the same time the Museum placed on exhibition on the First Floor the great Chalice of Antioch and other related objects lent through the courtesy of Mr. Fahim Kouchakji. Mr. Kouchakji's collection, known as the Antioch Treasure, includes a lesser chalice, a large silver cross, and three silver book covers as well as the great chalice. All date from early Christian times and are rare and beautiful examples of the work of the ancient silversmith.

A case of jewelry and enamels representing the work of the contemporary enamelist and goldsmith jeweler will also be on display from December 6 to December 11. The work in this case is by Mr. Frank Gardner Hale, dean of the Boston jewelers, who will lecture at the Museum at 4 o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, December 9. The subject of his discourse will be "The Art of the Jeweler and Goldsmith." In the course of his remarks he; will describe the craft of the ancient silversmith used in producing such works as the Antioch Chalice.

The collection of medieval art, comprising Byzantine art and art of western Europe, includes sculpture, painting, mosaic, illuminated manuscript books, coins, jewelry, tapestries and other woven textiles, pottery, wrought iron, arms and armor. It represents over a thousand years of history, from the founding of Constantinople in 330 A.D. to the discovery of America.
Some objects of later date arc included to indicate the persistent influence of the medieval tradition. The illustrated handbook describes 225 items and includes essays on the middle ages by Mr. Marvin Chauncey Ross, Curator, and Miss Louise Chase, his assistant.

The new gallery of Medieval Art has been constructed in space formerly occupied by an open balcony running round the light well of the Classical Court on the floor below. Inner walls have been built to make this space suitable for exhibition purposes. Color is used in the backgrounds to enrich the affect of the installation. Miss Christine. Krehbiel, stylist of the Museum Staff, is responsible for the color scheme design of special cases and pedestals and for many details of arrangement.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 123. View Original