INDUSTRY INSIGHT
AMERICAN SCULPTURE
SPONSORED CONTENT
A Timeless Perfection:
American Figurative Sculpture in the Classical Spirit
at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Written by Judith H. O’Toole, The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
The Westmoreland
Museum of American
is dedicated to the
collection and exhibition
of American art in its
many manifestations.
The first object to be
accessioned into the
collection in 1958, one
year before we opened to
the public, was a bronze
by Paul Wayland Bartlett
titled Seated Female Nude.
More works by American
sculptors followed, mainly
in the figurative style.
Before the advent of
abstract art, the degree
to which an artist could
represent the human
figure was a benchmark of an artist’s ability. Even now, when so
many forms of artistic expression abound, an artist begins their
training studying and rendering the human figure. Life drawing is a
prerequisite to any art student’s journey.
These two premises, The Westmoreland’s commitment to extending
its collection and the role of figuration throughout art history, come
together in a recently completed, substantial gift from Dr. Michael L.
Nieland of Pittsburgh.
One of the great privileges of my position as a museum director is
the opportunity to meet collectors of art. Most enjoyable are those
who crave conversation about artists and objects and what they mean
to us individually and as a society; who share the observations of their
discerning eye and who thirst to hear those of your own; and who
understand the importance of a lifelong engagement with art.
Even better are those collectors who refer to themselves as
temporary caretakers of the works in their collections and who
recognize that the privilege they have had in living with art should,
at some point, be passed along to the public realm. Dr. Nieland is
one of the latter. We were introduced by a mutual friend, and I was
immediately struck by his modest and gracious manner. He expressed
genuine curiosity about my background and my expertise in American
art rather than immediately promoting himself to me as an important
collector. It was only later that I learned the scope of his knowledge
and collection, mostly during visits to his wonderful home over
culinary delights prepared by his lovely artist-wife, Lilli.
In the fall of 2014, we made the announcement that Dr. Nieland
would be gifting the Museum, over the course of several years, with
fifty-seven late 19th and early 20th century figurative sculptures,
primarily bronzes and all by American artists. A gift that both
complements and significantly expands the Museum’s sculpture
holdings with such notable artists as John Donoghue, Mario Korbel,
Malvina Hofmann and Adoph Weinman, together with twenty-nine
others, who add new artists names to the permanent collection.
Sculptures by Paul Wayland Bartlett, Harriett Frishmuth, Walker
Hancock and Frederick MacMonnies supplement and further enhance
important pieces by these artists already owned by The Westmoreland.
This wonderful gift gives us an opportunity to explore the lives and
aesthetic achievements of these sculptors, and in celebration of the
gift, we are presenting A Timeless Perfection: American Figurative
Sculpture in the Classical Spirit from October 7- December 31,
2017, which we hope will expand awareness of this extraordinary era
of American sculpture.
We invite you to visit The Westmoreland to experience this
exceptional exhibition. For more information, please visit
thewestmoreland.org or call us at 724.837.1500.
Support for A Timeless Perfection: American Figurative Sculpture in the Classical Spirit was
generously provided by The Richard C. von Hess Foundation and the Hillman Exhibition Fund of
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
A Timeless Perfection:
American Figurative Sculpture
in the Classical Spirit
October 7– December 31, 2017
Support for A Timeless Perfection:
American Figurative Sculpture
in the Classical Spirit was
generously provided by The
Richard C. von Hess Foundation
and the Hillman Exhibition Fund
of The Westmoreland Museum of
American Art.
image: John Talbott Donoghue,
Young Sophocles, c. 1890
An exhibition celebrating the gift of fifty-seven
extraordinary American sculptures from the
collection of Dr. Michael L. Nieland.
221 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601
724.837.1500 | thewestmoreland.org
Greensburg Salem | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 27