 | Yale alumnus Paul Mellon combined his love of art and horses by commissioning British artist John Skeaping to sculpt some of his beloved racehorses. Skeaping's "Mares and Foals" is one of the works on view in the new exhibit. |
To memorialize his most famous and prized racehorses, the late philanthropist Paul Mellon '29 asked British sculptor John Skeaping to craft three-dimensional images of them, including the 1971 English Derby winner "Mill Reef."
The memorial to "Mill Reef" is among the sculptures on view in "Taste and Beauty in Three Dimensions: Paul Mellon and British Art," which honors the philanthropist and founder of the Yale Center for British Art. The exhibition, on view through 2003 in the entrance court and throughout the center, is being offered as part of its 25th anniversary celebration.
Mellon was a connoisseur and collector of British art. Aided by his two art advisers, Basil Taylor and John Baskett, Mellon collected works that include the achievements of some of the most respected sculptors working in Britain. Items in the exhibition -- which range from a monumental lead statue of King William III by 17th-century sculptor John Van Nost to a group of bronze foals and mares by contemporary artist Tessa Pullan -- reflect the personal taste of Mellon in sculpture and demonstrate the breadth of his collection in this genre.
In his autobiography, Mellon wrote that "collecting is the sort of thing that creeps up on you, prompted by a number of influences, some of which you are not even conscious." Mellon's acquisitions of sculpture for the Yale Center for British Art attest to his deep commitment to the art form. In addition to Skeaping, Mellon also greatly admired artist Barbara Hepworth, whose works are on display on the second floor.
Also on view is Louis François Roubiliac's portrait bust of the 18th-century poet Alexander Pope, on whose base Mellon had inscribed a personal tribute to his adviser Basil Taylor; and one of the few sculpture portraits of himself that Mellon admitted to liking, a bronze bust by Tessa Pullan.
The Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St., is the most comprehensive collection of British art outside the United Kingdom. Its hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. The center is closed Mondays and major holidays. For a recorded listing of museum events, call (203) 432-2800; exhibition news also appears on the center's website at www.yale.edu/ycba.
T H I S
'Taste and Beauty' showcases
art collector's sculptures
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Yale gets archives of noted architect Eero Saarinen
Grant supports undergraduate, outreach science programs
Book of short stories by law student nominated for National Book Award
Lights! Camera! Action! Yale serves as locale for major motion picture
Yale partners to create a statewide bioterrorism plan
Junior faculty members awarded research fellowships
Actor and activist is honored as a Chubb Fellow
Noted architecture critic to give Poynter Lecture
Yale study shows that a commonly used heart medication . . .
American Physical Society honors Pierre Hohenberg
SCHOOL OF NURSING NEWSNew Office of Clinical Affairs will support faculty . . .
YSN faculty practice program cited for excellence . . .
'Taste and Beauty' showcases art collector's sculptures
Proceeds from students' auction will help fight hunger . . .
Yale will host annual intercollegiate mock trial competition
Alexander Garvin to speak about the future of the
World Trade Center site
Workshop will offer information on funding to small-business owners
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Yale Scoreboard|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs Home|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page