From the source
[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 2, No. 2
18 February - 3 March 2008 ] By Silvia Dropulich
Art as history
The rich history of Melbourne’s Fine Arts Department, illustrating the Department’s founding personalities, is the feature of a current exhibition at the Baillieu Library.
Curator and Doctoral Candidate (Art History) Benjamin Thomas (right), says the exhibition – which runs until March 7– is unique in that it is the first time an exhibition has been curated illustrating not only the founding personalities of a discipline, but how their legacy shaped subsequent generations of graduates – many of whom are now internationally recognised luminaries in art history.
Entitled Joe Burke’s Legacy: the History of Art History in Melbourne, the exhibition showcases many significant items that were ‘rediscovered’, according to Mr Thomas.
“As the inaugural Herald Chair from his arrival in Melbourne in 1947 until his retirement in 1979, Joseph Burke played a central and guiding role in the shaping of art education in Melbourne, and Australia more broadly,” he says.
“He embraced the notion that his role as Herald Chair was to encourage all the fine arts, rather than being confined strictly to the teaching of art history.
“Arguably, of all those involved with the Department since its founding, it is Burke who has left the most enduring legacy.”
The founding of the Herald Chair and the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne in 1946 marked the introduction of art historical education at a tertiary level in Australia.
Mr Thomas reports the ‘rediscovered’ items came to light as he was putting the exhibition together. These included Burke’s graduation certificates – both from Kings College, London, as well as one presented to him by Melbourne University in 1948 – which were found in private hands.
He says that with so many rich stories, achievements and contributions made by so many staff and alumni, presenting a broad and comprehensive – but clear – narrative for the exhibition was a challenging task.
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