New Gift to Sloane Art Library

The Art Department and the Sloane Art Library have recently received a generous gift of a rare book from alumna Maria Adela Mendez Shearer.  The book is Adolfo Venturi, Correggio.  Rome: A. Stock, 1926.  Translation by Constance M. Cann. Number 62 of a limited English edition of 200 copies.

This sumptuous work by the noted art historian and connoisseur Adolfo Venturi, author of Storia dell’Arte Italiana (2276) and (which the Art Library also owns) is bound in gold-tooled leather by Carlo Glinger and printed on Fabriano paper, with decorated endsheets by Vittorio Grassi.  The work is a major monograph for Correggio, included in the citations for the artist in Freitag and Grove. Its nearly 200 fine plates include, in addition to paintings, numerous drawings, and the monograph is well indexed, with a selection of documents as well.  New interest in Correggio was spurred by the major Correggio/Parmigianino exhibition of  2000, and we are fortunate to  now have this important scholarly work.

After working in grass-roots development in the Third World, Maria Shearer moved to Rome 12 years ago.  She writes that “ever since I have been enjoying otium cum dignitate, as Saint Augustine did while still a Manichean. I have done lots of research, written a great deal, for my own satisfaction, and have canvassed Europe in search of, among many other things, Paleochristian and Romanesque treasures.” During her years in Rome, she as developed what she describes as “a ferocious passion for modern and contemporary art.”

The Department of Art and the Sloane Art Library send most sincere thanks to Maria Shearer for this wonderful gift!