Richard Saunders
Director of the Middlebury College Museum of Art; Walter Cerf Distinguished College Professor
Email: rsaunder@middlebury.edu
Phone: work802.443.5235
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:00 pm-3:00 pm or by appt.
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Richard Saunders has been at Middlebury since 1985. His areas of expertise are art of the United States and the history of the art museum.
He received degrees from Bowdoin College (B.A.), the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture at the University of Delaware (M.A.), and Yale University (M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D.).
Courses
Courses offered in the past four years.
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
AMST 0319 - Portraiture
The American Face: Portraiture and Identity in American Culture
Portraits in their many forms have been part of American society since the seventeenth century. Why has the portrait been such a resilient form of expression in American culture? What is the relationship between portraiture and identity? And what role has photography played in the social function of portraiture in American life? This course will explore visual and literary portraits over the past 200 years-from public portraits and memorials to biography, caricature, snapshots, and Facebook. Students will be asked to create their own personal web page portraits and will conduct research on individual portraits in the Middlebury College Museum of Art permanent collection for a 2010 exhibit at the Museum. (Formerly HARC/AMCV 0319) 3 hrs. lect.
Spring 2009
FYSE 1359 - The American Art Museum
The American Art Museum
Americans are awash in a sea of art. Only some of it, however, finds its way into museums where it is seen in temporary exhibits or permanent collections. Who decides what gets in or stays out? Why do museums have most of their collections hidden away? What roles do auction houses, art dealers, and collectors play? What determines the monetary value of art? In this seminar we will probe answers to these questions and create an exhibit of objects that tells us much about ourselves but is unlikely ever to be seen in a museum. Our primary text will be The Art Museum From Boullée to Bilbao by Andrew McClellan. 3 hrs sem.
Spring 2012
HARC 0248 - Gold/Sex/Death at the Museum ▲
Gold, Sex, and Death at the Museum
Most visitors to museums notice the architecture, carefully chosen collections, and meticulously curated special exhibitions. However, behind this façade is a busy network of museum professionals coordinating every aspect of the institution’s life. Through readings and guest lectures, we will explore how directors, curators, and staff navigate the challenges facing the modern museum, such as establishing acquisitions policies in an increasingly uncertain art market, defining ethical standards for conservation, and addressing audiences with ever-changing needs. Speakers such as a curator, art critic, and conservator will contribute to our discussion, and attendance at a series of public talks is required. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Fall 2012, Fall 2013
HARC 0319 - Portraiture
The American Face: Portraiture and Identity in American Culture
Portraits in their many forms have been part of American society since the seventeenth century. Why has the portrait been such a resilient form of expression in American culture? What is the relationship between portraiture and identity? And what role has photography played in the social function of portraiture in American life? This course will explore visual and literary portraits over the past 200 years-from public portraits and memorials to biography, caricature, snapshots, and Facebook. Students will be asked to create their own personal web page portraits and will conduct research on individual portraits in the Middlebury College Museum of Art permanent collection for a 2010 exhibit at the Museum. (Formerly HARC/AMCV 0319) 3 hrs. lect.
Spring 2009
HARC 0350 - Case Studies in Visual Cult.:
Case Studies in Visual Culture: American Paintings from the Shelburne Museum
During the 2010 spring semester, the Middlebury College Museum of Art will have on loan approximately forty paintings and drawings from the permanent collection of The Shelburne Museum. These works of art, which range in date from the 18th-century to the early 20th-century, will include portraits, still-lifes, landscapes, and genre paintings. In this seminar-style course students will have the opportunity to investigate the social context that led to the creation of such works and select individual paintings as subjects for research papers and public presentations. (HARC 0100, HARC/AMST 0246, or by waiver) 3 hrs. sem.
Spring 2010
HARC 0409 - Art Museums: Theory & Practice
Art Museums: Theory and Practice
American museums are more complex places than simple collections of objects on display. This course provides an intensive introduction to that world. Participants are made aware of the history of the art museum and its role in American life. The overall orientation of the course is with practical problems and the diverse nature of museum issues. Topics include: politics and censorship, patronage, collections, ethics, conservation, connoisseurship, installation design, and the art market. Students work on the development of an exhibit for the Museum. The course will have a seminar format with an emphasis on discussion, research papers, and field trips. 3 hrs. sem.
Spring 2011
HARC 0510 - Advanced Studies ▲ ▹
Advanced Studies
Supervised independent work in art history. (Approval Required)
Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014
HARC 0711 - Senior Thesis: History of Art ▹
Senior Thesis: History of Art *
This course is a continuation of HARC 0710 which consists of ongoing, supervised independent research with an advisor, plus organizing, writing, and presenting a thesis, which will be due on a Friday, two weeks before the end of classes. (HARC 0301 and HARC 0710)
Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014
