Dena M. Woodall
Ph.D., M.A. ’97
Associate curator prints and drawings
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
THE HEAD OF A YOUNG WOMAN LOOKING UPWARD
Description: Made by Guido Reni, one of the most influential 17th-century Italian painters, this chalk drawing on pale brown paper portrays a young woman looking toward the heavens. It is among a number of finished head studies that the artist made from models in preparation for his paintings and resembles painted portrayals of the penitent St. Mary Magdalene with eyes lifted, tearful and pleading.
Why it inspires me: The artist portrayed the woman with such grace, refinement and beauty. Not only is this drawing a hallmark in the museum’s collection and acquired during my tenure, but also it is a delicate object that has withstood the test of time.
Nancy S. Woodland
B.A. ’71
Tour guide
The Arabia Steamboat Museum
Kansas City, Mo.
PARIAN PORCELAIN PITCHER
Description: Parian ware was developed in the 1840s and was much admired at the Crystal Palace exhibitions in London and New York (1851 and 1853). The pitcher tells a story of book characters Paul and Virginia, who were good friends since birth and fell in love, but sadly died in a shipwreck.
Why it inspires me: This piece is so beautiful and tells a most interesting story. I am inspired by all the artifacts in the museum, because they show so well what was available in 1856 on the frontier. The boat could carry 220 tons of cargo and had such a multiplicity of things — beads, buttons, boots, beautiful fabrics. Pickles and pie fruits were on board to be sold. Two of the partners tried them and said that on a scale of one to 10, they were a seven.
Elizabeth Williams
M.A. ’05
Curator of decorative arts and design
RISD Museum, Providence, R.I.
LADY’S WRITING TABLE AND CHAIR
Description: More than 10,000 hours of labor, 75 pounds of silver and a panoply of exotic materials — ebony, mahogany, redwood, ivory, mother-of-pearl — went into this unique desk set. It deftly melds sinuous European art nouveau floral and figural motifs, 18th-century French rococo forms and traditional Hispano-Moresque designs. It was created specifically by Gorham Manufacturing Co. for the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis to show the world what American designers and manufactories could produce.
Why it inspires me: The artists who came together to create this magnificent desk were incredibly talented and skilled. The successful combination of myriad styles and materials is remarkable and was aptly recognized when Gorham won the grand prize in silversmithing at the fair.