By Matthew Stroh
Title: John and Jane Adams Artwork Collection, 1890-1936
Extent: 5.0 Boxes
Subjects: Adams, Jane Ford--Art collections, Adams, John R., 1900-1994--Art collections, Art, American--19th century, Art, American--20th century, Art, European--20th century, Art--Private collections--California--San Diego
The collection contains a number of pieces of artwork (etchings, oil, watercolor, acrylic, and others) by early twentieth century American and European artists.
A San Diego contingent of landscape artists is headed by Charles Arthur Fries (1854-1940), called the “Dean of San Diego Painters.” Ivan Messenger (1895-1983) was a member of the San Diego Moderns and was also a printmaker of some renown. Rounding out the San Diego scene is Helen Johnston Balfour (1847-1925) known for her watercolors of California scenery.
Also included in the collection is a piece by one of the most prominent western artists in United States history, Charles Marion Russell (1864-1926). The final American artist of note represented in the collection is George Taylor Plowman (1869-1932), best known for his etchings of covered bridges in New England.
Represented in the collection are pieces by two European artists of particular interest. The first is a piece by Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), who has been compared to Henri Matisse (1869-1954). There is a color etching by German expressionist Conrad Felixmuller (1897-1977), whose companion piece to this, “Einsame Frau,” is not in this collection.
Adams, Jane Ford--Art collections
Adams, John R., 1900-1994--Art collections
Art, American--19th century
Art, American--20th century
Art, European--20th century
Art--Private collections--California--San Diego
Repository: Special Collections & University Archives
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions: The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Acquisition Source: John and Jane Adams
Preferred Citation: Identification of item, folder title, box number, John and Jane Adams Artwork Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University.
