Learning About Pictures From Mr. Root. Professor Root, Edward W. Root Art Center Hamilton College Clinton NY. Foreword by Joseph S. Trovato. 1965 Exhibition Catalog.

Root, Edward R. (Picture Text) / Trovato, Joseph S. (Foreword)

Published by Munson - Williams - Proctor Institute / Hamilton College Art Deprtment, Clinton NY, 1965

This is an unusual and special item for anyone who has connections to Hamilton College. From 1920 to 1940 Edward Root taught Art Appreciation at Hamilton College. Thousands of Hamilton students arrived at a deeper understanding of art and what makes something art, through his profound love and universal knowledge of the field.

One cannot go back to, nor recreate the atmosphere of Professor Root's classroom, but "Learning About Pictures from Mr. Root" , a catalog of an exhibit mounted at Hamilton's Edward W. Root Art Center in 1965 featuring some of Mr. Root's collection, is about as close as we can come (short of any surviving films).

In 1940 Professor Root stopped teaching (formally), and devoted his energy to building a collection of superb art. Considering his vast knowledge, and his impeccable taste, it is no wonder that the collection became renowned.

There are 15 pictures in this catalog, a small representation of the whole collection. What makes this catalog special is that there Professor Root, himself, provided the descriptive passages, in which he used his knowledge of art to provide critical insight into each picture. The art ranges from classic artists such as Rembrandt, Goya, Rodin, and Daumier, to moderns such as Charles Burchfield, Edward Hopper, Reginald Marsh and George Luks (Luks was one of Root's close friends).

EVENT : Exhibition Catalog for The Edward W. Root Art Center, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, January 4 through 31, 1965
TITLE : Learning About Pictures from Mr. Root.
FOREWORD : Joseph S. Trovato (Mr. Trovato was a painter based in Utica)
PICTURE TEXT : Edward W. Root
IMPRINT : (Corporate) Prepared by Munson - Williams - Proctor Institute in cooperation with the Art Department of Hamilton College
PLACE : Utica / Clinton
DATE : 1965
EDITION : First Edition ( has the printer's error of a caption for an illustration not present in the book on page [6] )
STATUS : Out of Print OP - Scarce Hamilton College Ephemera. According to OCLC, only 7 libraries, worldwide, have cataloged this book.
DETAILS : Digest sized brochure; Contains a Foreword. Contains 15 monochrome illustrations with descriptive text. 24 unpaginated pages (count includes title page; approximately 6 3/8" x 8 1/2", photo-illustrated wraps, stapled (paper covers). The front cover has a nice black-and-white photograph of Professor Root examining a painting.

CONDITION - VERY GOOD - This is a previously owned book what is exceptionally well-preserved , with the following noted:
EXTERIOR - Near-negligible weathering to surface of back cover; some scattered microscopically small spotting to front (hardly noticeable). Surface rub is very mild.
BINDING ? Solid.
INTERIOR ? Clean and unmarked. Seller Inventory # 272

Bibliographic Details

Title: Learning About Pictures From Mr. Root. ...
Publisher: Munson - Williams - Proctor Institute / Hamilton College Art Deprtment, Clinton NY
Publication Date: 1965
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Very Good
Edition: 1st Edition