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Home>Exhibitions>Past>2019>In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy

# In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy

September 16, 2019 – January 10, 2020East Building, Study Center Library

Clarence Kennedy, *Christ as the Redeemer: Head*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

**This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.**

**Open Monday–Saturday from September 16, 2019–January 10, 2020, except January 4.**

Clarence Kennedy (1892–1972), an art historian at Smith College and self-proclaimed “scholar-photographer,” revolutionized documentary art photography with subtle and illuminating details of Italian Renaissance sculpture. The limited photographic resources available for teaching art history in the early 1920s led Kennedy to pursue photography, eventually resulting in his seven-volume photographic series *Studies in the History and Criticism of Sculpture*. Sculptors with large workshops, such as Andrea del Verrocchio (c. 1435–1488) and Desiderio da Settignano (c. 1429–1464), particularly inspired him. His exquisitely detailed photographs allowed him to compare motifs, methods, and styles to propose distinctions between the master’s hand and the work of his assistants.

The first six volumes in Kennedy’s *Studies* were portfolios of loose photographs, averaging 50 plates each without accompanying text. These included surveys on the ancient Greek Erechtheion and the Siphnian Treasury, but Kennedy later turned to quattrocento Florentine subjects with volumes on portraiture and relief sculpture, as well as monographic surveys of Desiderio’s *Marsuppini Tomb* (Santa Croce) and *Tabernacle of the Sacrament* (San Lorenzo). He also planned and partially completed a portfolio on the *Chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal* by Antonio Rossellino (San Miniato al Monte).

In 1932 Kennedy published volume seven: *The Unfinished Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio to the Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri at Pistoia*, which unlike its predecessors is bound and contains text. The text was written by his student Elizabeth Wilder, originally as her master’s thesis, and was supported with documents discovered by Italian art historian Pèleo Bacci. Kennedy photographed the monument from 1930 to early 1931. The result focused new attention on a major work long dismissed as a workshop production.

The Forteguerri cenotaph is nearly three stories high, with life-size figures including Christ surrounded by four angels with the virtues Faith, Hope, and Charity positioned above putti and a bust of the cardinal. Verrocchio received the commission in 1476 but left it incomplete in the hands of his workshop assistants when he moved to Venice in 1486 to work on a different commission. The monument’s precise location in the Pistoia Duomo was not decided until after Verrocchio’s death, and its initial installation was significantly altered in the 16th and 18th centuries. Charity, the bust, and the flanking putti are all later additions. These modifications, as well as the monument’s placement high on the wall in a dark aisle, made it nearly impossible to study properly before Kennedy’s campaign.

Photographing marble sculpture *in situ* requires a light source bright enough to illuminate the sculptures without obliterating the details and producing dark shadows. Kennedy solved this problem with his “pencil of light” method, where a light source was moved continuously over the object during a long exposure. This process revealed details that allowed Kennedy, Wilder, and subsequent scholars to study and compare the details within the monument and throughout Verrocchio’s *oeuvre*.

The Gallery would like to thank the Harvard Fine Arts Library, the repository of Kennedy’s negatives and professional papers, for the loan of plates from their unbound deluxe edition of the Forteguerri monograph. The bound copy is among the National Gallery of Art Library’s extensive Kennedy holdings, including a unique unpublished portfolio entitled *The Quattrocento Panels of the Silver Altar of San Giovanni,*comprised of several reliefs now in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Florence. Harvard’s Forteguerri plates are displayed alongside other Kennedy photographs from the Gallery’s collection, including Verrocchio’s Silver Altar relief and sculptures from the Gustave Dreyfus Collection photographed for the art dealer Joseph Duveen. The juxtaposition of these images illustrates Kennedy’s roles as connoisseur, thoughtful art historian, and innovative photographer.

The exhibition is curated by Melissa Beck Lemke, image specialist for Italian art in the department of image collections, National Gallery of Art.

An accompanying online feature can be accessed at nga.gov/verrocchiokennedy.

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Ansel Adams, *Clarence Kennedy*, 1955, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections, © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence, 1932, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Christ as the Redeemer: Head*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Saint John the Baptist*, 1932, gelatin silver print, detail of *Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Christ as the Redeemer: Left Hand*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Christ as the Redeemer: Right Foot with Drapery Drawn across the Ankle*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Christ as the Redeemer: Head of Cherub, from the Side*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail *of Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Putto Poised on a Globe by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art, 1930, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Faith: Head, Not Quite in Profile to the Right, as Seen from in Front*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Faith: Drapery behind the Right Thigh*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Faith: Left Hand, with the Drapery over the Arm*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Hope: Head, Facing Nearly Left, as Seen from in Front*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Hope: Hair, Veil and Wing*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Hope: Drapery below the Waist*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Upper Angel to Observer’s Left: Head, Looking to the Right, as Seen from in Front*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Soldier*, 1932, gelatin silver print, detail of *Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Lower Angel to Observer’s Left: Head, Facing Slightly Right, as Seen from in Front*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Lower Angel to Observer’s Left: Drapery below the Waist*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Lower Angel to Observer’s Left: Right Wing*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Lower Angel to Observer’s Right: Head, Facing Slightly Right as Seen from the Left*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Lower Angel to Observer’s Right: Drapery below the Waist*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Inscribed slab: Two Putti Upholding the Inscription*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Putto by Francesco di Simone Ferrucci*, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, c. 1949, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Inscribed Slab: Legs and Feet of the Putto to Observer’s Right*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Inscribed Slab: Head of the Putto to Observer’s Right*, 1930/1931, gelatin silver print, detail of *Cardinal Niccolò Forteguerri Monument by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy negative printed by Ansel Adams, *Putto by Francesco di Simone Ferrucci*, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, c. 1965, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections. Reproduced with permission from the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust. All rights reserved

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Giuliano de’ Medici by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art, 1930, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Giuliano de' Medici: Breastplate by Andrea del Verrocchio*, National Gallery of Art, 1930, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy
Clarence Kennedy, *Bust of a Young Woman: Three-quarter View from Right by Andrea del Verrocchio*, The Frick Collection, 1930, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art Library, department of image collections

**Organization:** Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington 

**Passes:** Admission is always free and passes are not required

**Brochure:**In the Library: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy by Melissa Beck Lemke. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 2019. 

Web Feature: Verrocchio, Connoisseurship, and the Photographs of Clarence Kennedy

Web Feature: Andrea del Verrocchio: A Closer Look

Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance FlorenceSeptember 15, 2019 – January 12, 2020West Building, Main Floor

                  - Introduction to the Exhibition—Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 25, 2020, (41:30 minutes)                                
                  - Introduction to the Exhibition—Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    February 25, 2020, (41:30 minutes)                                
                  - Verrocchio and the Interplay between the Arts
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    January 21, 2020, (61:22 minutes)                                
                  - Verrocchio and the Interplay between the Arts
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    January 21, 2020, (61:22 minutes)                                
                  - Verrocchio’s Medici Tombs: New Observations and Technical Analysis
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    January 14, 2020, (35:20 minutes)                                
                  - Fifteenth-Century Florentine and Tuscan Sculpture in the National Gallery of Art
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    December 3, 2019, (130:37 minutes)                                
                  - Press Event: Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    September 10, 2019, (30:26 minutes)                                
                  - Press Event: Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    September 10, 2019, (30:26 minutes)                                

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