Earliest Acquisitions at Drexel: President MacAlister's European Visit

Beginning January 28, 2013

8:00 AM-7:00 PM

Exhibition from January 28, 2013 through March 22, 2013. The exhibition was curated by Drexel University student, Eric Selman ’14.

In 1891, Drexel’s first president, James MacAlister, received $1 million from Anthony J. Drexel to travel to Europe to purchase art for the opening of a museum in December of that year. Most of the pieces were acquired in London. However, President MacAlister also bought art in Paris and Antwerp. He had the advice of C. Purdon Clarke, the keeper of the India Museum and Sir Philip Cunliffe Own, director of the South Kensington Museum, now the Victoria and Albert Museum, to aid him in his purchases.

The original aim of the museum was to be chiefly technical in nature and to embrace the materials and processes in their production so there was an eclectic mix in the art acquired. Some of the objects purchased and displayed in the exhibition are redware bowls from Pakistan, a 17th century Hindu doorframe from India, wall tiles from Turkey and a copper ewer from Antwerp.

Contact Information

Lynn Clouser
215-895-2414
lcc48@drexel.edu