The Architecture and Origins of the Mead Art Museum
Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, the Mead Art Museum houses the fine art collection of Amherst College. The building was opened in 1949 and bears the name of architect William Rutherford Mead, a member of the firm McKim, Mead & White. The institution was established through the estate of Olga Kilyeni Mead, who left her holdings to the college. The structure itself is a central part of the campus landscape, characterized by the Stearns Steeple and the specific architectural intent of its founders.
The museum functions as a repository for a diverse range of materials, extending far beyond Western oil paintings. The collection is organized to reflect a broad historical scope, from ancient carvings to modern prints. Visitors find a space that integrates academic study with the preservation of physical history.
The Permanent Collection
The holdings include a significant selection of American and European paintings. These works are accompanied by specialized collections that provide a global perspective on material culture. The museum maintains a variety of media and historical periods within its walls.
- The Thomas P. Whitney collection of Russian art
- Ancient Assyrian carvings from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II
- Japanese prints and Tibetan scroll paintings
- Mexican ceramics and West African sculpture
- A 17th century English paneled room, originally from Rotherwas Court
The Assyrian reliefs are of particular historical weight. These panels were acquired by Amherst College in 1857 and were excavated from Nimrud. They depict King Ashurnasirpal II in a central panel, shown with a fringed robe and a bow. The reliefs were originally twelve inches thick but were reduced to four inches to facilitate transport from the Middle East to the United States. They are currently displayed in the Nineveh Gallery.
Artistic Highlights
The painting collection contains works by several notable artists. These pieces represent various movements and technical approaches. Among the works held in the catalog are:
Landscape at Cagnes by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Morning on the Seine, Giverny, 1897 by Claude Monet. The collection also features The Past and The Present, both painted by Thomas Cole in 1838. Other significant works include Work Interrupted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Charity Enlightening the World, painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1627. The museum also holds Echo Lake, New Hampshire, 1860 by Alfred Thompson Bricher and The Château de la Croix-Blanche in Saint Mammes (September Afternoon), 1884 by Alfred Sisley.