American and European Painting at Louisiana Arts and Science Center

Louisiana Arts and Science Center

Baton Rouge, LA

504.344.9478

American and European Painting at Louisiana Arts and Science Center

Louisiana Arts and Science Center is presenting the exhibition American and European Painting beginning on November 7, 1998 and continuing through January 3. Drawn from LASC's permanent collection, this exhibition showcases 18th-through-20th-century paintings by American and European artists. French paintings will represent artistic movements such as Rococo and Neoclassicism. 19th century Academic painting American works will include 18th century portraiture, 19th century landscape painting in the style of the Hudson River School, and a selection by 20th century artists from the Southeast.

Conrad Albrizio, American, 1894-1973, Jordan, 1935-1937, tempera on board

Conrad Albrizio was born in New York City, but he worked in Louisiana for most of his life. He studied with George Luks at the Art Students League in New York. Albrizio was appointed to the art faculty at Louisiana State University in Baron Rouge in 1935 where he continued to teach until 1954. He is perhaps best known for his mural work, which can be found in public buildings throughout Louisiana, including the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal and the State Capitol building in Baron Rouge.

Jordan is one of Albrizio's most successful easel paintings. This emotional and energetic portrayal of a southern black baptism reflects the influence of Thomas Hart Benton and the other American Scene or Regionalist painters. The American Scene artists' characteristic emphasis on solid, muscular figures and convulsive rhythms can be found in this painting.

Albrizio painted a number of paintings depicting the southern black. It is here that he may be compared with Benton; both artists are fascinated by the southern black's religious and social rituals.

Jordan was included in exhibitions in New Orleans, San Francisco, and most imprtantly, the 1937 Annual Show of Contemporary Art at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. This invitational exhibition was the predecessor to today's prestigious Whitney Biennial, and included paintings by some of Albrizio's well known contemporaries: John Sloan, Stuart Davis, Edward Hopper, Arshile Corky, and Marsden Hartley. .Albrizio was one of 110 artists around the country invited to submit a painting for inclusion in the show, and was reportedly the first artist from Louisiana invited to participate in this exhibition.

For further biographical information on selected artists cited in this article please see America's Distinguished Artists, a national registry of historic artists.

rev. 7/23/10

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