'St. John On Patmos': U-M Acquires Major Painting

‘St. John On Patmos’:

U-M Acquires Major Painting

“St. John on Patmos,” a major painting of the 16th Century, was acquired by the University Museum of Art during the past academic year, it was announced.

The painting is by the Flemish artist, Joos van Cleve, probably executed in Antwerp around 1525.

Prof. Robert Koch of Princeton University has written of the picture: “The painting, I believe, will be of special interest and particular value for a university museum because of its splendid combination of figure with landscape.” According to Museum Director Charles Sawyer, the painting ranks among the important acquisitions by American museums during the year.

Purchase of this and other works of art of major importance this last year was made possible through the U-M Regents special appropriation for acquisitions.

Among these, “The Parable of the Unmerciful Debtor” by Jan van Hemessen (Jan Sanders), Flemish, first half of the 16th century, is a dramatic picture with exceptional subject interest which will make it especially useful for teaching purposes in literature and art historical studies, Sawyer said.

“Recent trips to the Far East of Profs. Max Loehr and James Marshall Plumer have inspired a number of important acquisitions in their spheres of interest, and the exceptional opportunities provided by the Persian exhibition this spring resulted in the acquisition of eight fine early bronzes and a group of early ceramics on Prof. Oleg Grabar's recommendation.

“The interest and initiative of Prof. Marvin Eisenberg has also been responsible for the acquisition of several Renaissance and 19th Century drawings and prints of excellent quality during the year.

“During a summer trip to Europe Miss Helen B. Hall, curator, selected for acquisition five drawings' and paintings by older and contemporary European artists.

"In the section on Contemporary Art, paintings by Josef Albers, Gabor Peterdi, and Jimmy Ernst and a sculpture by Seymour Lipton are important additions to the collections in this field,” Sawyer said.

These recent acquisitions are featured in the initial fall installations of the U-M Museum of Art.