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CBS FESTIVAL OF LIVELY ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: WHAT'S A MUSEUM FOR ANYWAY? (TV)

Summary

One in this series of programs on the arts which are intended for young audiences. In this episode, host Gabe Kaplan gives a tour of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., providing information on both the institution and many of the artworks in the collection. After making introductory remarks, Kaplan discusses one of his favorite paintings, John Singleton CopleyÕs "Brooks Watson and the Shark." He then talks about Andrew Mellon, the founder of the National Gallery of Art, who donated the money for the building in addition to his own private collection of artworks, which included a number of Rembrandts. Several works from the Rembrandt collection are shown. While examining Pierre Auguste RenoirÕs painting "A Girl With a Watering Can," Kaplan explains why patrons in a museum are prohibited from touching artworks, and he remarks on the significance of seeing original artworks in person. After a discussion about the role of climate-controlled museum environments in art preservation, Kaplan visits one of the museumÕs restoration professionals who are working on Jean Baptiste Simeon ChardinÕs oil painting "Soap Bubbles." The restorer outlines some of the preservation techniques that he uses. Then Kaplan sparks discussions about several paintings. He compares renditions of "St. George and the Dragon" as created by three different artists, and he listens to comments made by a group of schoolchildren regarding Peter Paul RubensÕs "Daniel in the LionÕs Den," and Robert MotherwellÕs "Elegy to the Spanish Republic." A survey of portrait painting follows, beginning with the Middle Ages and focusing on works by Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci. Kaplan also refers to da VinciÕs skills in the fields of astronomy, geology, and engineering. Several masterpieces from the museum collection are then shown, including paintings by Amedeo Modigliani, Jan Vermeer, Edgar Degas, Thomas Eakins, Pablo Picasso, Eugene Delacroix, and Sandro Botticelli. Joan Mondale, a tour guide, leads a group of schoolchildren in a discussion of Edouard ManetÕs painting "The Railway." Then several museum patrons, including Soupy Sales, introduce other features of the museum, such as the cafeteria and the gift shop. Finally, J. Carter Brown, director of the National Gallery of Art, discusses the following: plans for the addition of a second museum building; the challenge of acquiring new works for the collection; examples of several temporary exhibitions; and Henri MatisseÕs work with cutouts. The program concludes as Kaplan mentions other great museums in the U.S. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: February 5, 1978 Sunday 5:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:47:13
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T79:0080
  • GENRE: Children's; Arts Documentaries
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1973-1986
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Lester Gottlieb … Executive Producer
  • Robert F. Stolfi … Executive Producer
  • Shevelove, Burt (See also: Shevelove, B.G.) … Producer
  • Fred Faviano … Associate Producer
  • Sid Smith … Director
  • Thomas H. Baum … Writer
  • Gabe Kaplan … Host
  • J. Carter Brown … Guest
  • Joan Mondale … Guest
  • Sales, Soupy (see: Milton Hines) … Guest
  • Andrew Mellon
  • Sandro Botticelli
  • Chardin, Jean Baptiste Simeon
  • John Singleton Copley
  • da Vinci, Leonardo
  • Eugene Delacroix
  • Thomas Eakins
  • Edouard Manet
  • Henri Matisse
  • Amedeo Modigliani
  • Robert Motherwell
  • Pablo Picasso
  • van Rijn, Rembrandt
  • Pierre Auguste Renoir
  • Peter Paul Rubens
  • Van Gogh, Vincent
  • Jan Vermeer