René d'Harnoncourt (May 17, 1901 – August 13, 1968) was an Austrian-born American art curator. He was Director of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, from 1949 to 1967.[1]
Of Austrian, Czech, and French descent, Count Rene d'Harnoncourt was born in Vienna, Austria, the son of Count Hubert d'Harnoncourt and his wife, the former Julie Mittrowsky. Although he showed an interest in art as a child, he received a technical education. After his family suffered severe financial losses, he moved to Paris in 1924, and went to Mexico in 1926. D'Harnoncourt initially eked out a minimal living as a commercial artist, but quickly acquired a reputation for his knowledgeable advice to American antique collectors.
Careeredit
In 1927, d’Harnoncourt went to work for Frederick W. Davis, who operated one of the most important antiquities and folk art shops in Mexico City. Davis was among the first to collect, display and sell the work of the emerging Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and Rufino Tamayo; others who frequented the shop included Miguel Covarrubias and Jean Charlot. D'Harnoncourt assisted in buying and selling antiques and contemporary works and also organized displays and exhibits in the showroom.
In 1929 and 1930, d'Harnoncourt organized an exhibition of Mexican fine and applied arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that then traveled to other American cities. D'Harnoncourt left Davis's shop in 1933 and moved to the United States. That year, he married Sarah Carr (1903-2001) and became host of the radio program Art in America. Among many others, Margaret Lefranc was a guest speaker several times during 1934–1935, educating listeners on American and European art. He briefly taught at Sarah Lawrence College. In 1936, d'Harnoncourt became the general manager of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB), a New Deal agency created to revive Native American arts and crafts. To promote Native American craftwork, d'Harnoncourt, along with Frederic Huntington Douglas, developed an exhibit of Native American arts and crafts for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. Its success led to an even larger show at New York's Museum of Modern Art, the influential Indian Art of the United States exhibition that opened in January 1941.
In 1944, the Museum of Modern Art appointed D'Harnoncourt to be vice president in charge of foreign activities. He proved to be an expert exhibit installer and notable collector. In 1949, the museum named him director, a position he would hold until 1967. He was responsible for a series of significant exhibitions over the course of his tenure as director, including Lipchitz (1954), Rodin (1963), and Picasso (1967). D'Harnoncourt was also an advisor to Nelson Rockefeller. In 1965, he was appointed to a commission to choose modern art works for the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection in Albany, New York.[2] He was a tireless advocate of modern art.
Death and legacyedit
D'Harnoncourt retired from the position of director in 1967. He was killed on Long Island by a drunk driver roughly a year later.
Hellman, Geoffrey T., "Profiles: Imperturbable Noble," New Yorker 35 (7 May 1960).
Lynes, Russell, Good Old Modern: An Intimate Portrait of the Museum of Modern Art, Athenaeum, New York 1973 pages 264–283.
Schrader, Robert Fay, The Indian Arts & Crafts Board: An Aspect of New Deal Indian Policy, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 1983, pages 124–128.
Publicationsedit
1931: The Hole in the Wall,Alfred A Knopf, ASIN B002N61RLK
1931: Mexicana,: A book of pictures, Alfred A Knopf, ASIN B00085UVA6
1933: Beast, Bird and Fish: An Animal Alphabet, Alfred A. Knopf, ASIN B00085PXD6
1946: ARTS OF THE SOUTH SEAS, The Museum of Modern Art/ Simon and Schuster, ASIN B000IVZTDY
1959: The New American Painting, As Shown in Eight European Countries 19581–959, The Museum of Modern Art, ASIN B000GWXUEA
1964: The Museum of Modern Art: A Pictorial Chronicle,Art in America, ASIN B005O2GWOC
Referencesedit
^New York - Volume 1 - Page 81 1968 "René d'Harnoncourt (1901-1968): The death, on August 13, of René d'Harnoncourt, retired director of the Museum of "
^The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection and Plaza Memorials. Rizzoli International Publications. May 3, 2002. p. 11. ISBN0847824551.
Cultural offices
Preceded by
Alfred H. Barr, Jr. 1944-1949 - job was handled by the chairman of the museum's Coordination Committee and Director of Curatorial Department
rene, harnoncourt, rené, harnoncourt, 1901, august, 1968, austrian, born, american, curator, director, museum, modern, york, from, 1949, 1967, contents, background, career, death, legacy, notes, publications, referencesbackground, editof, austrian, czech, fren. Rene d Harnoncourt May 17 1901 August 13 1968 was an Austrian born American art curator He was Director of the Museum of Modern Art New York from 1949 to 1967 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 Notes 5 Publications 6 ReferencesBackground editOf Austrian Czech and French descent Count Rene d Harnoncourt was born in Vienna Austria the son of Count Hubert d Harnoncourt and his wife the former Julie Mittrowsky Although he showed an interest in art as a child he received a technical education After his family suffered severe financial losses he moved to Paris in 1924 and went to Mexico in 1926 D Harnoncourt initially eked out a minimal living as a commercial artist but quickly acquired a reputation for his knowledgeable advice to American antique collectors Career editIn 1927 d Harnoncourt went to work for Frederick W Davis who operated one of the most important antiquities and folk art shops in Mexico City Davis was among the first to collect display and sell the work of the emerging Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera Jose Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo others who frequented the shop included Miguel Covarrubias and Jean Charlot D Harnoncourt assisted in buying and selling antiques and contemporary works and also organized displays and exhibits in the showroom In 1929 and 1930 d Harnoncourt organized an exhibition of Mexican fine and applied arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that then traveled to other American cities D Harnoncourt left Davis s shop in 1933 and moved to the United States That year he married Sarah Carr 1903 2001 and became host of the radio program Art in America Among many others Margaret Lefranc was a guest speaker several times during 1934 1935 educating listeners on American and European art He briefly taught at Sarah Lawrence College In 1936 d Harnoncourt became the general manager of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board IACB a New Deal agency created to revive Native American arts and crafts To promote Native American craftwork d Harnoncourt along with Frederic Huntington Douglas developed an exhibit of Native American arts and crafts for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco Its success led to an even larger show at New York s Museum of Modern Art the influential Indian Art of the United States exhibition that opened in January 1941 In 1944 the Museum of Modern Art appointed D Harnoncourt to be vice president in charge of foreign activities He proved to be an expert exhibit installer and notable collector In 1949 the museum named him director a position he would hold until 1967 He was responsible for a series of significant exhibitions over the course of his tenure as director including Lipchitz 1954 Rodin 1963 and Picasso 1967 D Harnoncourt was also an advisor to Nelson Rockefeller In 1965 he was appointed to a commission to choose modern art works for the Governor Nelson A Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection in Albany New York 2 He was a tireless advocate of modern art Death and legacy editD Harnoncourt retired from the position of director in 1967 He was killed on Long Island by a drunk driver roughly a year later D Harnoncourt s only child Anne Julie d Harnoncourt 1943 2008 served as Director and eventually CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1982 until her death Notes editHellman Geoffrey T Profiles Imperturbable Noble New Yorker 35 7 May 1960 Lynes Russell Good Old Modern An Intimate Portrait of the Museum of Modern Art Athenaeum New York 1973 pages 264 283 Schrader Robert Fay The Indian Arts amp Crafts Board An Aspect of New Deal Indian Policy University of New Mexico Press Albuquerque 1983 pages 124 128 Publications edit1931 The Hole in the Wall Alfred A Knopf ASIN B002N61RLK 1931 Mexicana A book of pictures Alfred A Knopf ASIN B00085UVA6 1933 Beast Bird and Fish An Animal Alphabet Alfred A Knopf ASIN B00085PXD6 1946 ARTS OF THE SOUTH SEAS The Museum of Modern Art Simon and Schuster ASIN B000IVZTDY 1954 Ancient Arts of the Andies The Museum of Modern Art New York ASIN B000TR8SJO 1959 The New American Painting As Shown in Eight European Countries 19581 959 The Museum of Modern Art ASIN B000GWXUEA 1964 The Museum of Modern Art A Pictorial Chronicle Art in America ASIN B005O2GWOCReferences edit New York Volume 1 Page 81 1968 Rene d Harnoncourt 1901 1968 The death on August 13 of Rene d Harnoncourt retired director of the Museum of The Governor Nelson A Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Art Collection and Plaza Memorials Rizzoli International Publications May 3 2002 p 11 ISBN 0847824551 Cultural offices Preceded byAlfred H Barr Jr 1944 1949 job was handled by the chairman of the museum s Coordination Committee and Director of Curatorial Department Directors of the Museum of Modern Art1949 1968 Succeeded byBates Lowry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rene d 27Harnoncourt amp oldid 1179419964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
