Update: Eakins “Gross Clinic”
15 December 2006 Leave a Comment
NPR again spotlighted Thomas Eakins’ painting The Gross Clinic last night. Not much of the information was new, but I found one thing interesting.
In the story, art historian Alan Wallach likens Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton — who is trying to acquire the painting for the up-and-coming Crystal Bridges museum in Bentonville, Arkansas — to a robber baron. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the term robber baron referred to wealthy Americans who bought up all of the art they could while in Europe.
Also, NPR commentator Joel Rose asks a Thomas Jefferson first-year medical student whether the painting contributes to his education at the school. He replies with a “no.” The student thinks the painting will be more of a service in a museum — adding he’d like to see it in a Philedelphia museum.
Local efforts to keep the painting in Philedelphia must raise $68 million before December 26th. The efforts have raised about a third of the money thus far.
An Eakins sketch of The Gross Clinic:
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