Yale Museums Announce 2001 Ritchie Lectures

NEW HAVEN — The idea of the “masterpiece” has long been a subject of debate in art museums, art history and art criticism. The 2001 Andrew Carnduff Ritchie Lectures will address the question of what makes a masterpiece through a series of test cases.

Hosted by Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art, this year’s series features four leading scholars who will each examine a single work from the Yale Center’s major fall exhibition, “Great Paintings from American Collections: Holbein to Hockney,” which remains on view through December 30.

The subjects of the lectures will range from a royal portrait of Sir Anthony van Dyck to one of the greatest paintings by J.M.W. Turner in America. The series will underscore the variety of British painting from its greatest moments, with lectures on such contrasting works as “The Blacksmith’s Shop” by Joseph Wright of Derby and “Elizabeth Farren, later Countess of Derby” by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

All lectures will be given on Wednesdays at 5:15 pm in the McNeil Lecture Hall of Yale University Art Gallery, 111 Chapel Street. Seating is limited.

On Wednesday, October 3, Bruce Redford, university professor and professor of English, Boston University, will speak on “The Queen and The Dwarf: van Dyck’s ‘Henrietta Maria with Sir Jeffrey Hudson.’ ”

On Wednesday, October 10, Desmond Shawe-Taylor, director, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, will speak on “J.M.W. Turner: ‘Dort or Dordrecht: The Dordrecht: The Dort Packet-Boat from Rotterdam Becalmed.’”

On Wednesday, October 17, Christopher Lloyd, surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, will speak on “Sir Thomas Lawrence: ‘Elizabeth Farren, later Countess of Derby.’”

Then on Wednesday, October 24, David H. Solkin, reader in history of art, Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, will conclude this year’s series with his lecture titled “Joseph Wright of Derby: ‘The Blacksmith’s Shop.’”

The Andrew Carnduff Ritchie Memorial Lecture Series were established by Jane T. Ritchie in memory of her husband, who was director of Yale University Art Gallery from 1957 to 1971 and who had a distinguished career both as a scholar and a museum curator.

For information call 203-432-2800.