The Iris

Treasures from the Vault

Posted in Art, Behind the Scenes, Getty Research Institute, Photographs, Film, and Video

Treasures from the Vault: Sam Francis and Mako Idemitsu

By Annette Leddy | Published: August 26, 2011
Untitled (Mako Series) / Sam Francis
Untitled (Mako Series), 1967, Sam Francis. Oil on canvas. 120 x 95 11/16 in. Collection of The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, museum purchase, The Benjamin J. Tillar Memorial Trust. © 2011 Sam Francis Foundation, California / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Those accustomed to thinking of Sam Francis as a major figure in a local art scene will be surprised to find that he was quite the internationalist, even before it became compulsory for Los Angeles artists to be so. A… More»

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Posted in Art, Getty Research Institute, Photographs, Film, and Video

Treasures from the Vault: Anticipating Mapplethorpe

By Laura Schroffel | Published: July 25, 2011
Self-portraits by Sam Wagstaff, 1960s or 1970s. The Getty Research Institute, Samuel Wagstaff papers, 1860-1987, 2005.M.46. Gift of The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Inc.
Self-portraits by Sam Wagstaff, 1960s or 1970s. The Getty Research Institute, Samuel Wagstaff papers, 1860-1987, 2005.M.46. Gift of The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Inc.

Many researchers are looking forward to delving in to the Robert Mapplethorpe archive we acquired in February. However, there is an important complementary collection of equal interest available right now: the Samuel Wagstaff papers. Wagstaff was a formidable curator and… More»

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Posted in Art, Getty Research Institute

Treasures from the Vault: Welcome to Alfred Schmela’s Art Gallery!

By Isabella Zuralski | Published: June 29, 2011
Me with documents from the Galerie Schmela archive in the Special Collections Reading Room at the Research Library, Getty Research Institute

An important archive on postwar art is now available for research at the Getty Research Institute. After several months of writing and archival processing, I’ve just finished my work on the archive of Galerie Schmela. The archive’s 172 boxes and 25 flat file… More»

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Posted in Art, Getty Research Institute

Treasures from the Vault: Italian Artists’ Books

By Isotta Poggi | Published: December 3, 2010
Books by Maurizio Nannucci. Top: Medium is word, 1975. Keleidoscope in a wooden box with a sliding top, 32 x 8 cm. Bottom: Museum of Modern Art, no. 15/30, 1983. Keychain inside a wooden box featuring a floor plan for a "Museum of Modern Art.” 7.3 x 10.8 cm. The Getty Research Institute, 890164, box 201 © Maurizio Nannucci
Books by Maurizio Nannucci. Top: Medium is word, 1975. Keleidoscope in a wooden box with a sliding top, 32 x 8 cm. Bottom: Museum of Modern Art, no. 15/30, 1983. Keychain inside a wooden box featuring a floor plan for a "Museum of Modern Art.” 7.3 x 10.8 cm. The Getty Research Institute, 890164, box 201 © Maurizio Nannucci
Saturday is the final day for the Santa Monica Museum of Art’s exhibition Libro/Oggetto: Italian Artists’ Books, 1960s–Now, a look at Italian artists’ books from the main art movements and trends of the second half of the 20th century. It... More»
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Posted in Art, Getty Research Institute

Volcano Observer: Sir William Hamilton and Mount Vesuvius

By Karen Meyer-Roux | Published: April 30, 2010
View of an Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Peter Fabris. Hand-colored engraving in Sir William Hamilton, Campi Phlegraei, 1776.
As news of the erupting and disruptive Icelandic volcano has streamed worldwide, we should pause to pay homage to the pioneering work of the British diplomat, collector and amateur vulcanologist Sir William Hamilton (1730–1803). Appointed Britain’s special envoy to the Spanish court... More»
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      Remarkably realistic for medieval illuminated beasts, which were often fabulous admixtures of fantasy and fur. The unicorn is clearly drawn from life, for example.


      05/23/13

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