Art History Curatorial Studies

press release: 

What's in a Jug? Art, Technology, Culture

On view February 9–April 8, 2018

The Oscar F. and Louise Greiner Mayer Gallery

Opening reception March 1, 5:30–8 p.m

Curated by UW–Madison students, this exhibition examines historic ceramic vessels and their technologies, artistry, and meanings. Specifically, it highlights molded Victorian jugs, vessels that were some of the highest quality and most popular and ubiquitous forms of the mid-19th century. These objects cross several important areas of study, including Victorian art and design, ornament drawn from popular culture (heroic myth, literature, history, and botanica), and improving technologies of molding. Their designs were praised and critiqued in art and design journals and, at their best, reached some of the pinnacles of decorative art. The jugs are from the collection of Frank Horlbeck, emeritus professor of art history.