By James C. Dobbins (NHC Fellow, 2006–07) Images of the Buddha are everywhere—not just in temples but also in museums and homes and online—but what these images mean largely depends on the background and circumstance of those viewing them. In Behold the Buddha, James Dobbins invites readers to imagine how premodern Japanese Buddhists understood and experienced icons … Continued
By Jonah Siegel (NHC Fellow, 1998–99) In this fascinating look at the creative power of institutions, Jonah Siegel explores the rise of the modern idea of the artist in the nineteenth century, a period that also witnessed the emergence of the museum and the professional critic. Treating these developments as interrelated, he analyzes both visual … Continued
By Morna O’Neill (NHC Fellow, 2012–13) This book charts a geography of the art market and the art museum in the early 20th century through the legacy of one influential dealer. Born in Ireland, Hugh Lane (1875–1915) established himself in London in the 1890s. With little formal education or training, he orchestrated high-profile sales of … Continued
By B. N. Goswamy (NHC Fellow, 1986–87) and Eberhard Fischer Catalog of the donated paintings of Horst Metzger.
Edited by Shepard Krech, III (Trustee; NHC Fellow, 1993–94; 2000–01) This work focuses on the life of the Haffenreffer Museum's founder, Rudolf Frederick Haffenreffer, and the processes whereby both his collections and what he called the King Philip Museum were formed
By Thomas Richards (NHC Fellow, 1990–91) Nineteenth-century Britain could be seen as the first information society in history—for the simple reason that it accumulated knowledge from the far-flung corners of its empire faster than it could easily digest it. The British Empire presented a vast administrative challenge; by meeting that challenge through maps and surveys, … Continued
My humanities moment happened at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. The piece that struck me the most during my visit to the museum was “Untitled No. 11, 1963” by Mark Rothko. This painting made me feel alone, made me ponder what it would feel like to be devoid of all senses, … Continued
Throughout my childhood, I was often taught about my ancestors-the Mormon Pioneers-and the suffering they went through in order to travel to America, and then to Utah. Because of my religion this was something that I had always known. Consequently, when I was fifteen years old, I didn’t even stop to think about how affected … Continued
As I was walking through the MFA I saw some statues of Buddha and buddhavistas. Finally I saw an ahbatabi Buddha shrine. I connected what I was learning with the museum and saw a noticeable difference between the pure land and other Buddhism sect shrines.
This past summer, my son was offered an opportunity to represent the United States and play baseball in Belgium and Holland. Naturally, I took one for the team and volunteered to chaperone him on the 10-day tour. I had never been to the Continent, only to England and Scotland, and was eager to collect more … Continued