Adams Borrowing Fogg Paintings; More Museum Programs Planned

Delacroix, Motherwell, Ingres, and Whistler are among the painters whose work will be lent to Adams House by the Fogg Art Museum as part of the Museum's new Program of undergraduate activities.

No other House has ever borrowed a series of painting from the Fogg to be hung independent of a special exhibit. Henry Berg, assistant to the director of the Fogg, said that other Houses could conceivably obtain similar loans but emphasized that "they are difficult and time consuming to arrange."

"Our missionary spirit prompts us to put good art in contact with the undergraduates, interest them, get them to the Fogg. We have no desire, however, to lend out paintings for decoration," he said.

Other Possible Programs

Other possible programs include: exhibits in the Fogg by undergraduates, art lecture series, and visits to out-of-town collections.

Adams has arranged to borrow at least five paintings, which will be exhibited one at a time for six weeks each. Berg said he had arranged to "change the articles frequently to make each one noticeable." The paintings will be exhibited in the House library, the only place in the House constantly under surveillance when not locked and therefore the ideal place to house the valuable paintings," he said.

The loan to Adams House was initiated by Barth D. Schwartz '69 who chose the paintings, with the help of Reuben A. Brower, Master of Adams House, from among those made available by the Fogg. Adams House has assumed the entire responsibility for the handling and insurance of the paintings.

Painting Now Displayed

The first piece installed in the Adams House Library is an oil painting by abstract-expressionist Bernard Dufford (1922-1956) entitled "Composition 1956."

Reaction to the colorful, abstract painting in the conservative House library has been generally favorable said Schwartz. "And the charge that the painting is out of context is absolutely true. We want it to be noticed so we planned it that way."