Edward Weston
American, 1886–1958
Shell 1 (Nautilus), 1927
Gelatin silver print
National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Agnes S. Wolf
NGA Washington acquires artworks in several mediums At its recent meeting in May 2013, the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, approved an impressive array of new acquisitions.]]>
July 28, 2013, source: National Gallery of Art, Washington
Among the acquisitions are the Gallery’s first paintings by Jean-Léon Gérôme and Cornelis Bega; a rare Florentine red wax relief after a model attributed to Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi; the first printed book illustrated by an Italian artist; and important old master drawings by Lattanzio Gambara and Alessandro Magnasco. The Gallery also acquired two major sculptures by Robert Smithson; its first works by renowned photographer Sally Mann; a landmark photograph by Edward Weston; a portfolio of photogravures by Al Taylor; and Jasper Johns’ 1997 edition print Green Angel 2 along with 13 related proofs and six related copperplates.
HIGHLIGHTS
Edward Weston, Shell 1 (Nautilus) (1927)
Edward Weston (1886–1958) was one of America’s most important modernist photographers. “Shell 1 (Nautilus)” was made at a crucial moment in Weston’s career, shortly after he returned to California from Mexico in 1927 and began closely examining individual, provocative natural objects.
Jean-Léon Gérôme, View of Medinet El-Fayoum (c. 1868–1870)
Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904) was the most publicly honored and financially successful French artist of the second half of the 19th century. His Orientalist scenes were inspired by the many voyages he undertook to Egypt, North Africa, Syria, Asia Minor, and the Holy Land over the course of his career. In “View of Medinet El-Fayoum”, c. 1868–1870, Gérôme depicts the oldest city in Egypt, located some 80 miles southwest of Cairo. While the Gallery owns a drawing and two prints by Gérôme, this work is the first painting by the artist to enter the collection.
Jasper Johns, Green Angel 2 (1997)
Artist Jasper Johns (b. 1930) has donated his 1997 edition print “Green Angel 2” along with 13 related proofs and six related copperplates.
Related content
NGA acquires works by Moran, Whistler and others (news, August 2012)
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