The Realist Impulse

In 2005, Mrs. Philip Hale was included in a show at Wheaton, The Realist Impulse as an example of William Merritt Chase’s realist portrait work^[1]. Some research was done into the provenance of the work and included in the exhibition catalogue. 

Since 1950, the portrait has been a vital part of the collection, under going conservation work before serving as the centerpiece of "The Realist Impulse," a student curated exhibition in 2005 under Professor Anne Murray^[1]. The show displayed the Permanent Collection's vast realist painting collection, with Mrs. Philip Hale at the head. While the painting is not longer constantly on display, through the student curated exhibitions that take place bi-annually and other student work, the Permanent Collection hopes to keep Mrs. Lothrop’s intentions in her gift alive. 

Text Sources:

^[1]“The Realist Impulse, Painting and Sculpture from the Wheaton College Collection, 1830-1940” Wheaton college, March 2-April 9, 2005. Beard Gallery/Weis Gallery. Wheaton College, Norton, MA. Curated by The Senior Art History Seminar, Fall 2004. 

Image Sources: 

http://wheatoncollege.edu/gallery/2005/realist-impulse/. Accessed April 21, 2014.