The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) announce that several important acquisitions made earlier this year are now on view in the permanent galleries of the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum.
At the Legion of Honor, new acquisitions include a storied 1842 Sèvres tea service and Odilon Redon’s (1840‱916) 1901 Symbolist painting “A Vase of Flowers.”
New acquisitions at the de Young include a major American painting by Larry Rivers 1923′002), “The Last Civil War Veteran,” 1961, and an early Twentieth Century harp from the Senofu people of Côte d’Ivoire, Africa.
The 17-piece Sèvres tea service, Déjeuner Chinois Réticulé, was originally made on the orders of French King Louis-Philippe in 1842. Inspired by Chinese porcelain, enamels and lacquer, this sumptuous French work of art complements the fine collection of European Nineteenth Century paintings, decorative arts and sculpture at the Legion.
Through the bequest of Caroline H. Hume, FAMSF now owns a striking floral still life painting by French Symbolist master Redon. “A Vase of Flowers” handsomely represents Redon’s interest in the brilliant colorism characteristic of flower painting.
The Phyllis C. Wattis Fund for Major Accessions made the acquisition of “The Last Civil War Veteran,” by Rivers possible. Rivers †artist, musician and filmmaker †is widely acknowledged as one of the earliest and most influential pioneers of Pop Art in the United States. His cycle of Civil War veteran paintings was the most ambitious extended series of his career.
Music plays a large role in Senufo ceremonial and secular performance, just as musical instruments are central to the story of African art. The acquisition of a West African harp (korikaariye) contributes to the illuminating breadth of work by the Senufo people on view at the de Young. The harp is also the first stringed instrument in the African collection.
The de Young is at 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, the Legion of Honor is in Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue and Clement Street. For more information, www.famsf.org or 415-750-3600.
