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Follow that Art! Balcomb Greene's Six-Sided Planes is Ready for its Close-up

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 12, 2011

Now that the Board of Trustees has approved the purchase of Balcomb Greene's Six-Sided Planes and it has been permanently accessioned into the Museums' collection, the next step is to make identification photography of the artwork. This photo will be used for internal recordkeeping on the collections management database and the website.

Art technicians Osvaldo Ruiz and Mark Grim prepare the painting for transportation to the photo studio. For safety, two people handle artworks at all times.

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Conservation Treatment of a Monumental Print

Posted by Debbie and Victor... on July 11, 2011

A monumental 17th-century etching/engraving by the artist Jacques Callot is currently on view in the Jacqueline and Peter Hoefer Print Study Room at the Legion of Honor. In addition to a dramatic naval battle scene, the print depicts many fascinating details of daily life, which are visible upon close inspection. Although the print was acquired by the museums in 1968, it had never been exhibited due to condition issues. The most noticeable of these condition issues was the fact that until recently, the sixteen panels comprising the print were separate pieces!


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Follow that Art! Balcomb Greene's Six-Sided Planes Becomes a Permanent Resident of the de Young

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 8, 2011

After Six-Sided Planes received its makeover in the paintings conservation lab, it was transported to the Legion of Honor for review during the full Board meeting (there are several sub-committee Board meetings that take place throughout the year).

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Old Masters in Context: The Dutch Golden Age at the Legion of Honor

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 7, 2011

Dutch and Flemish Masterworks from the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection opens this Saturday, July 9 at the Legion of Honor. In preparation, bone up on your 17th-century history with these fun facts about the Dutch Golden Age and paintings on view in our permanent collection!

ca. 1600 | Wigs and dress trains become fashionable. William Shakespeare writes Hamlet.

1609 | Johannes Kepler announces important laws of planetary motion.

1611 | King James Bible is published.

1612 | Peter Paul Rubens paints The Tribute Money.

On view in Gallery 14.

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FRAME|WORK: Boatmen on the Missouri by George Caleb Bingham

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on July 6, 2011

FRAME|WORK is a weekly blog series that highlights an artwork in the Museums' permanent collections. This week, we feature the iconic Boatmen on the MIssouri by George Caleb Bingham, currently on view in Gallery 23 at the de Young.

George Caleb Bingham: Boatmen on the Missouri

George Caleb Bingham (American, 1811–1879). Boatmen on the Missouri, 1846. Oil on canvas. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd. 1979.7.15

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FRAME|WORK: A ceremonial knife from Mexico

Posted by Sarah Bailey Hogarty on June 29, 2011

FRAME|WORK is a weekly blog series that highlights an artwork in the Museums' permanent collections. This week, we feature a spectacular obsidian ceremonial knife from Mesoamerica on display at the de Young.


Ceremonial knife, ca. 1200–1500. Mexico, Alta Highlands, Mixtec. Obsidian, turquoise, spondylus shell and resin. Gift of Lauren and Patrick Hallinan. 2007.97.3

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