Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:
The LSU Museum of Art (LSU MOA) is pleased to present Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection on view November 17, 2022–February 26, 2023.
Beginning in the 1600s, wealthy, aristocratic young British men regularly traveled to cultural centers throughout continental Europe, visiting cities in Germany, France, and Italy. Initially the routes mirrored those of established religious pilgrimages, often culminating in Rome, the penultimate destination to experience both classical history and modern ideas and culture. By the 19th century, focus shifted away from Rome, and destinations expanded across the Mediterranean region, with intrepid travelers venturing off the traditional routes and exploring areas further abroad, such as Spain, the Middle East (the Holy Land), and North Africa. The trip was considered an essential rite of passage for the fashionably polite. Travelers would return with a heightened sense of taste and a liberal education, having experienced significant centers of antiquity and masterpieces of art firsthand. Many brought home trunks of souvenirs from their adventures—books, works of art, scientific instruments, and cultural artifacts—that were ultimately displayed in libraries, drawing rooms, and galleries built within their estates.
By the mid-1800s, with the introduction of the steamship, Americans were able to cross distances faster and travel farther, easing their journeys abroad. American artists, who had long been influenced by European trends, styles, subjects, and media, ventured to Europe, seeking to absorb the cultural richness and ancient history of the continent. Some learned under master-artists or in established academies, mastering techniques and approaches that they then brought back to America. Others explored traditional regions of the Grand Tour, capturing the essence of the people and places along the route. The Mediterranean allowed artists to visually investigate the land, culture, and community of a region deeply rooted in history, artistic tradition, and literary heritage. They were able to experience renowned works of art directly, studying the paintings and sculptures created by the hands of celebrated masters.
The exhibition Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection, features seventy-one works created by American artists who visited or studied in areas included in the Grand Tour tradition. The varied collection of late 19th and early 20th century paintings provides an overview of the Mediterranean and explores the rich diversity of the region, as seen through the eyes of American artists. Their paintings capture the environment, the distinct colors and atmosphere, the varied flora and fauna, and the uniqueness of the people who lived an ocean apart.
This exhibition is made possible by the generous loan of artwork from The Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trustt in Fairfield, Texas. The Willifords, descendants of an established Texan family, strongly believed in education. As a young man, Graham Williford traveled to Paris to study music. While in Europe, he became enthralled with American Art and the international exchange of ideas, traditions, and styles. Williford returned to America, ultimately becoming a rancher. His devotion to art, however, only grew, with his family amassing more than 1100 artworks, including paintings, sculpture, and decorative objects. The Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust was formed upon his death, fulfilling his wish that his collection would be available for the education and enjoyment of the public. The Foundation actively loans out artworks, hosting exhibitions across the United States in prominent museums such as the Dallas Museum of Art and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, in Texas, the Hunter Museum of American Art in Tennessee, and the High Museum of Art in Georgia.
Dr. Mark White, Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Art and original curator of Mediterranea
Join us for the reception of this exhibition on Thursday, December 1 and a lecture by Dr. Mark White, the Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Art and original curator of Mediterranea.
ON VIEW AT LSU MOA: November 17, 2022–February 26, 2023
Upcoming Lectures and Programs
LSU MOA Installation
Exhibition Lenders & Sponsors
Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection is made possible by the generous grant and loan of artwork from The Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust in Fairfield, Texas. This exhibition is sponsored locally by Linda and Robert Bowsher and by Taylor Porter Attorneys At Law.
Support for this exhibition and all LSU MOA exhibitions is provided by the generous donors to the Annual Exhibition Fund: Louisiana CAT; The Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund in memory of Heidel Brown and Mary Ann Brown; John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer; The Alma Lee, H. N., and Cary Saurage Fund; Charles “Chuck” Edward Schwing; Robert and Linda Bowsher; Becky and Warren Gottsegen; LSU College of Art + Design; Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Arst; and The Newton B. Thomas Family/Newtron Group Fund.
Past Events
Press
inRegister Magazine spoke with LSU MOA Senior Curator and Director of Public Programs Michelle Schulte about Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection along with Volterra and Pasqua by Kevin Benham. Read to learn more!