Object Description
From: Laura Sprague
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:08 AM
To: Anne Goodyear ; Frank Goodyear
Cc: Elizabeth Humphrey ; Sean Burrus ; Earle G. Shettleworth Jr.
Subject: Curtis Perry paintings
Dear Anne and Frank,
Earle has had a delightful and productive visit with descendants of Curtis Appleton Perry, the Bowdoin Class 1877 & artist who gave us two early French and Portuguese chairs. Earle’s been swamped with information following his lecture last week in Bridgton that was attended by 5 Perry descendants.
At Earle’s recommendation, Nina Perry and her sister would like to give us the two Perry oil paintings they own. Images are attached below. One is a very fine depiction of Sanibel Island, ca. 1890 - Barbizon style with some impressionism; it needs light cleaning and repair to its original frame. The other is an earlier work, perhaps while Perry was a student either at Bowdoin or in Paris. We don’t own any of his pictures so these would be great additions.
Earle has discovered more about Perry’s family; his father William Stanwood Perry was born in Brunswick, made his fortune in Boston in the 1850s and 1860s, returning to Brunswick where he served as a Bowdoin Overseer from 1870-1873. The family has been sharing their resources, including a photo of our French medieval armchair in his summer house at Bridgton!
The Perrys are anxious to move on this gift. Would you like to call them to follow up? It would be great if we could discuss /approve at the Sept 3 curatorial meeting.
Many thanks.
Best wishes,
Laura
Laura F. Sprague
Senior Consulting Curator
Bowdoin College Museum of Art
