William H. Forsyth

William Holmes Forsyth was an American artist.

Early life and education

Forsyth was born in Chicago.[1] He was educated at the Latin School of Chicago and the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut.[2][1] Later, he attended Princeton University in 1930, where he studied art history under Charles Rufus Morey.[1][2][3]

Forsyth married Agnes Mitchell in 1942.[2]

Career

Forsyth started his career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1933, initially volunteering for the medieval collection.[2]

By 1934, Forsyth had become an assistant, working under curator James Rorimer.[1][2][4] Forsyth and Rorimer were instrumental in establishing the Cloisters, facilitated by John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s donation of land and medieval artifacts, including the notable The Unicorn Tapestries.[1]

In 1937, Forsyth was instrumental in acquiring the last two pieces of the Unicorn Tapestries from France, completing the collection.[1][2] The Cloisters opened the following year. Forsyth's career progressed within the museum, leading to his promotion to curator in 1968.[1][2]

Forsyth authored several scholarly works, including The Entombment of Christ: French Sculptures of the 15th and 16th Centuries and The Pietà in French Late Gothic Sculpture: Regional Variations.[1][2] He retired from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1971, at which point he was named emeritus curator.[2][1][5]

Bibliography

  • The Entombment of Christ: French Sculptures of the 15th and 16th Centuries
  • The Pietà in French Late Gothic Sculpture: Regional Variations

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Saxon, Wolfgang (May 21, 2003). "William H. Forsyth, Met Curator, Dies at 96". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Forsyth, William". Dictionary of Art Historians.
  3. ^ https://paw.princeton.edu/memorial/william-h-forsyth-%E2%80%9930
  4. ^ Jewell, Edward Alden (December 16, 1939). "MUSEUM DISPLAYS MADONNA PAINTING; Sculpture Also Is Included in Exhibition Put on View in Metropolitan Gallery ARRANGEMENT IS PRAISED William H. Forsyth, Assistant Curator of Medieval Works, Directed the Show". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ^ "b1712922_001". libmma.contentdm.oclc.org.