Sulpice-Guillaume Chevallier (known as Paul Gavarni) (1804-1866) Partis en Guerre Pour Tuer Les Ennemis (They went off to war to kill their enemies), ca. 1850, 13” x 8”, Watercolor, gouache, pen and grey ink on light tan paper. Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Schlossberg
August 27, 2015
The Sorrow of Too Many Joys: Satire in 19th Century France, including master drawings and sculpture from the Schlossberg Collection, will be on view at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art from September 5 through December 6, 2015.
Part of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Exhibition Series, The Sorrow of Too Many Joys is comprised of approximately 96 works on loan, including original drawings and watercolors, lithographs and sculpture. The exhibition, curated by John Daniel Tilford, Curator of Collections at OUMA, examines the genres of satire and caricature utilized by artists in 19th century France and seeks to provide a historical perspective in which recurring subjects of social and political satire are examined.
Lenders to the exhibition include: Dr. and Mrs. Michael Schlossberg; High Museum of Art (Atlanta); Dixon Gallery and Gardens (Memphis, Tenn.); Weltner Library, Oglethorpe University (Atlanta); Dr. and Mrs. Peter and Alice Rogers; Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Sherry Gaynes; and, Dr. and Mrs. Mark and Sabrina Rivellese.
By utilizing original drawings and more serialized works on paper, as well as sculpture, audiences can witness the social commentary of artists seeking to expose the plight of under-represented classes in the society of 19th century France. Artists and writers of the era utilized their skills to criticize the actions of ruling society while also critiquing their own colleagues. As a result, the exhibition also illustrates the rich interplay between the literary and visual arts of 19th century French society. The resulting assemblage of the works of art in a single exhibition will afford students, scholars, and the public the unique opportunity to examine 19th century French culture through the eyes of some of the most noted artists of that era. The exhibition will also enable viewers to witness the interaction between various artists who often utilized each other as guises and models for their satirical illustrations.
The Sorrow of Too Many Joys is accompanied by a Wednesday Lecture Series:
September 16, 7 p.m. | “The Arts and Satire in 19th Century France,” John Daniel Tilford, Exhibition Curator, OUMA Curator of Collections
October 7, 7 p.m. | “French Caricature: How Dare They!,” David and Constance Yates, Private Art Dealers
October 14, 7 p.m. | “Inside the Mind of a Cartoonist: Mike Luckovich of the AJC,” Mike Luckovich, Editorial Cartoonist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
October 28, 7 p.m. | “Caricature of the 1888 Paris Duel between the General and the Prime Minister,” Jay Lutz, PhD, Professor of French and Frances I. Eeraerts ’76, Professor of Foreign Language, Oglethorpe University
November 18, 7 p.m. | “Jean-Louis Forain: La Comedie parisienne,” Julie Pierotti, Curator, Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Sunday, 12 noon to 5 p.m. and closed Mondays and university holidays. General admission and lectures are $5. OUMA members and children under 12 receive free admission. Parking is free. OUMA is located on the Oglethorpe University campus at 4484 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30319. OUMA is supported by the Georgia Council for the Arts and is a proud member of Blue Star Museums, offering free admission to members of the military and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. OUMA is a member of the Southeastern Museums Conference, the American Alliance of Museums, and the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries. For more information, visit museum.oglethorpe.edu or call 404-364-8555.
Media Contact:
Renee Vary, 404-364-8868 or [email protected]