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Culture Desk: Museum's Namesake is Study in White

Brooks Museum of Art

The Brooks Museum of Art turned 100 this year, and some of its earliest art works on display were those donated by its founders and supporters. That's true of this painting by the American artist Cecelia Beaux. The subject of the portrait is Mrs. Samuel Hamilton Brooks (nee Bessie Vance), whose financial gift to the museum included the family name. Museum director Emily Ballew Neff tells more.

Portrait of Mrs. Samuel Hamilton Brooks, 1911

Artist: Cecilia Beaux, American, 1855 - 1942

Medium: Oil on canvas

Painting: 47 3/4 x 35 in. (121.3 x 88.9 cm)
Frame: 52 3/8 x 39 3/8 in. (133 x 100 cm)

Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Samuel Hamilton Brooks

Object Number: 16.1

Copyright: public domain

On View

Reporting from the gates of Graceland to the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, Christopher has covered Memphis news, arts, culture and politics for more than 20 years in print and on the radio. He is currently WKNO's News Director and Senior Producer at the University of Memphis' Institute for Public Service Reporting. Join his conversations about the Memphis arts scene on the WKNO Culture Desk Facebook page.