THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511030053
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
IN ITALY in the late 1700s, archeologists unearthed classical antiquities, which were then sold at market.
The increased availability of such artifacts promoted an interest in classicism - the idea of looking to the ancients, Greeks especially, for cultural substance and inspiration.
By the early 1800s, ``this late classical style had begun to appear in America, promoting a vogue that would span nearly four decades and eventually culminate in a national style that defied regionalism,'' wrote Wendy A. Cooper in her 1993 exhibition catalog, ``Classical Taste in America: 1800-1840.''
Cooper will speak on the subject Monday at 6 p.m. at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk. Her free talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Historic Houses of the museum.
In her lecture, Cooper is expected to touch on Norfolk's Moses Myers House, which contains decorative arts mostly dating from the early 1800s. The Myers House is among the historic homes managed by the museum.
Cooper is curator of furniture at Winterthur Museum in Delaware, which houses a prestigious collection of American decorative arts. Previously, Cooper was a curator at The Baltimore Museum of Art, where she organized ``Classical Taste in America,'' which traveled to The Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, N.C., and to Houston's Museum of Fine Arts.
Cooper also is a past director of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Gallery in Colonial Williamsburg.
Her publication in 1980 of ``In Praise of America, American Decorative Arts, 1650-1830'' helped build her reputation as an expert in American furniture and silver.
Mr. and Mrs. George M. Kaufman of Norfolk were among the lenders to ``Classical Taste in America.''
Call 664-6200 for more information. CRAFT SHOW
The 31st annual Richmond Craft and Design Show takes place next weekend at at the Richmond Centre, at 5th and Marshall streets.
Two hundred of the nation's top craft artists will display their work on Friday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
On view and for sale will be wearable art, unique handmade furniture and jewelry, art glass, pottery, unusual carvings and more.
The show benefits the nonprofit Hand Workshop Art Center in Richmond. Admission is $5.50, $4 for members and senior citizens. Ages 12 and younger get in free. A weekend pass is $8. Call (804) 353-0094 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The music room in the Moses Myers House in Norfolk contains early
19th century decorative arts to be discussed by Wendy Cooper.
by CNB