John and Jane Adams Artwork Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS-0052

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains a number of pieces of artwork (etchings, oil, watercolor, acrylic, and others) by early twentieth century American and European artists.

A San Diego contingent of landscape artists is headed by Charles Arthur Fries (1854-1940), called the “Dean of San Diego Painters.” Ivan Messenger (1895-1983) was a member of the San Diego Moderns and was also a printmaker of some renown. Rounding out the San Diego scene is Helen Johnston Balfour (1847-1925) known for her watercolors of California scenery.

Also included in the collection is a piece by one of the most prominent western artists in United States history, Charles Marion Russell (1864-1926). The final American artist of note represented in the collection is George Taylor Plowman (1869-1932), best known for his etchings of covered bridges in New England.

Represented in the collection are pieces by two European artists of particular interest. The first is a piece by Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), who has been compared to Henri Matisse (1869-1954). There is a color etching by German expressionist Conrad Felixmuller (1897-1977), whose companion piece to this, “Einsame Frau,” is not in this collection.

Dates

Creation: 1890-1936

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.