‘Traces of the Hand’ Talk by Curator April 9 at U.Va.’s The Fralin Museum of Art

Curator Lawrence Goedde will give a lunchtime talk on The Fralin Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Traces of the Hand: Master Drawings from the Collection of Frederick and Lucy S. Herman,” on April 9 from noon to 1 p.m. 

Frederick and Lucy S. Herman spent over 50 years building an impressive collection of more than 250 works on paper, a majority of which they generously donated to the Fralin in 2006 and 2007.

“Traces of the Hand” displays a selection of drawings from this collection and celebrates the Hermans’ achievement as discriminating collectors. The drawings in the exhibit date from 1530 to 1945 and represent a variety of artistic periods.

In his talk, Goedde, a professor of art history in the McIntire Department of Art in the U.Va. College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. will discuss the areas in which the collection excels and those which clearly correspond to the Hermans’ tastes, including social satire, portraiture, German Romanticism and the depiction of the natural world through landscape and marine imagery.

Goedde will also discuss new research by both graduate and undergraduate students that has resulted in new attributions and identifications of the drawings’ subjects, as well as the differing functions of specific drawings within an individual artist’s creative process.

Goedde’s area of expertise includes Dutch and Flemish art of the 17th century as well as old master prints and drawings. He is the author of numerous publications and essays on landscape and marine painting in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as still life painting.

The museum’s lunchtime talks are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month, and offer the opportunity to join curators and faculty as they explore topics related to museum collections and exhibitions.

The talks are free and open to the public. For information, call 434-243-2050 or e-mail museumoutreach@virginia.edu.

The museum is located at 155 Rugby Road, one block from the Rotunda.