Americans on Tour
American Artists Abroad: 1900-1950
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
February 2 – May 11, 2008
Title: Notre Dame Early Morning, 1929
Artist: Marvin Cone (American 1891-1964)
Medium: Oil on Artist Board
Dimensions: 13 x 14 7/8 in.
Bequest of Russell I. and Ruth Hess. 2003.004
Image Courtesy: Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Many fine art museums possess an extensive permanent collection allowing them to
utilize it for special exhibitions. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (CRMA) is lucky
to have several works by artists who traveled far and wide drawing inspiration
from their travels.
Four artists who are well represented at CRMA. They are Bertha Jacques, Malvina Hoffman,
Grant Wood and Marvin Cone.
Bertha Jaques lived in Cedar Rapids for a significant portion of her life. Jacques co-founded
the Chicago Society of Etchers. Landscapes and floral etchings were her preferred subjects.
Auguste Rodin's last pupil was Malvina Hoffman who traveled extensively during 1902 and 1912.
She earned a commission from the Field Museum creating the Hall of Man. Hoffmann was
the daughter of famed concert pianist Richard Hoffman. She liked to create life-size sculptures.
Grant Wood will forever be associated with his icon image of Americana American Gothic found
at the Art Institute of Chicago. He made four separate trips to Europe during the Roaring Twenties. Wood
maintained a life-long friendship with fellow Iowan Marvin Cone. In 1920 the twosome returned from their
European travels together.
Marvin Cone traveled initially during the time of the Great War (World War I) and remained
in Europe to study. Cone is considered an American Regionalist painter, who spent the majority
of his life in Cedar Rapids.
Title: Fountain of the Medici, Luxembourg Gardens, 1924
Artist: Grant Wood (American 1891-1942)
Medium: Oil on Composition Board
Dimensions: 12 7/8 x 16 1/4.
Gift of Harriet Y. and John B. Turner, II. 76.12.22
Image Courtesy: Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
“American Artists Abroad offers a unique opportunity to see the
result of travel abroad on important artists in our collection,”
says Sean Ulmer, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions.
“Unlike other national exhibitions that have focused on
artists' travel in the late 19th century, this exhibition
looks at contact between American artists and Europe,
North Africa, and Japan in the first half of the 20th century.
By including several artists' works held in great depth by the
Museum, we are able to present a more thorough and enlightening
picture of this global exchange.”
American Artists Abroad: 1900-1950
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art:
February 2 – May 11, 2008
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