Thimme exhibition to open Jan. 20 at IU Art Museum

Tribute to Thimmes will explore classical themes

By Susan Williams

Danaë Thimme

Image courtesy of the IU Art Museum Thimme collection
André Masson, The Hesperides, 1947, color lithograph on paper

“An Ancient Muse: Classical Themes in Old Master and Modern Prints from the Thimme Collection” traces the theme of classicism in Western art. Divided into three sections, the exhibit explores allusions to the stories, sites and aesthetics of ancient Greece and Rome by artists ranging from the engravers of the Italian Renaissance to Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall and Rudy Pozatti, a professor emeritus of fine arts at IU Bloomington.

The exhibited works come from a collection of more than 500 original prints and artists’ books that belonged to Diether Thimme, a faculty member in the IUB Department of Fine Arts from 1960 until his death in 1978. The collection was bequeathed to the museum by his wife, Danaë, at her death in 1998. “The Fine Art of Conservation: An Homage to Danaë Thimme” explores her conservation legacy. She became the museum’s first conservator in 1970 and then served as associate director for conservation from 1990 until 1998.

The exhibit’s related events include various lectures and special tours of the exhibit; a teacher’s workshop, “Classical Allusions: Revisiting the Myths, Monuments and Motifs of the Ancient World in Western Art;” a children’s workshop, “Exploring Prints and Printmaking;” and a continuing studies course, “Printmaking Primer and Shopping Trip.” With the exception of the continuing studies course, the events are free of charge, but some require pre-registration. For more information regarding the events, call the museum at 812-855-5445. To register for the continuing studies course, call 812-855-5108 by March 2.

The IU Art Museum, located on 7th Street in Bloomington, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays.

All exhibits are free and open to the public.