Collection miniatures
Gift to museum
Nine portraits, a landscape painting, a ring, and a pin are included in the collection of miniature paintings given to the KU Art Museum by Mr. and Mrs. John W. Starr of Kansas City, Mo.
The twelve art objects were unveiled Friday night at an open house and reception held at the Art Museum preceding the Museum Benefit Ball at the National Guard Armory.
MARILYN STOKSTAD, director of the KU Art Museum, said miniatures were "intimate, personal articles, which, before the invention of photography, took the place of the keepsake portrait."
The art of miniature painting originated in Britain under Hans Holbein (c. 1497-1543) but it reached its heyday in the 18th century, Daphne Foskett writes in an article in September 1966 "Antiques."
THE ART OF miniature painting is unknown to many, Miss Foskett writes in the August 1966 "Connoisseur." Many are surprised to find so much of artistic and historic interest displayed in a comparatively small space.
"The fact that miniaturists had the ability to paint likenesses on such a small scale seems, in many instances, to have endowed them with the additional gift of insight into the personalities of their sitters."
Richard Cosway, (c. 1740-1821); John Smart, (c. 1741-1811); and Louis van Blarenburgh, (c. 1732-1812) are some of the artists whose work is included in the Starr gift to the museum.
MISS STOKSTAD said Cosway was "a master of graceful design and exquisite color." His oval portrait of Captain George Montgomery measures approximately two inches by two inches.
Smart painted "realistic like-nesses with enamel-like finishes," Miss Stokstad said.
Ross E. Taggert, senior curator of the Nelson Gallery in Kansas City, Mo., wrote in an article in August 1966 "Connoisseur" that Smart relied upon accuracy of draftsmanship, strong clear jewellike colors, and often painted the background drab so attention would be focused on the features of the person.
AN OVAL PORTRAIT of Patrick Colguhoun painted by Smart in 1807 measures approximately two and three-quarters inches by one and one-quarter inches.
Louis van Blarenburgh specialized in painting landscapes for snuff boxes. His landscape, included in the collection, measures approximately one and three-quarters inches by two and three-quarters inches with the frame.
No air wanted
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—(UPI) — Delicate guidance instruments for space vehicles are assembled at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in atmospheres composed of a far purer nitrogen than the naturally occurring gas that makes up 80 per cent of the earth's atmosphere, according to Chemetron Corporation's National Cylinder Gas division which supplies it to the space center.
Particles smaller than a halfthousandth of an inch are filtered from the "instrument grade" nitrogen before delivery to prevent contamination of the space components.
Campus poet to read work
David Ignatow, associate professor of English, initiates the SUA Poetry Hour season with readings from his own works at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Browsing Room of the Kansas Union.
Unless a published poet from off campus comes through town, the Poetry Hour will concentrate on KU published poets, said Liz Needley, Lawrence sophomore and Poetry Hour chairman.
MISS NEELLEY said the Thursday afternoon time slot will be a regular policy, with few exceptions.
"We're interested in all kinds and variations of poetry," she said. "We want poets reading their own work or reading others. We want all phases and historical periods."
Among the national poets that may appear is the playwright William Inge, a 1935 KU graduate.
IGNATOW HAS published four volumes of poetry, "Poems," "The Gentle Weightlifter," "Say Pardon," and "Figures of a Human." Another, "Rescue the Dead," is ready for publication.
Asked about the style of his poetry, Ignatow replied, "Come and find out."
How long has he written poetry? "Since the world was born—my world, that is."
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