The Works of British and American Artists in the Acton Collection

The 15th century Florentine Villa La Pietra was the home of the Actons, an Anglo-American family, from 1903 through 1994. In over 90 years’ residency, the Actons put together a vast and diverse art collection that also features British and American Impressionist painters, such as William Merrit Chase, James Montgomery Flagg, Cedric Morris, and Melvin Nichols, many of whom visited the Actons and even painted in the area.

The tour, led by art historian and collection manager Francesca Baldry, will focus on these connections and on the nurturing artistic spirit of the Villa and its owners. Rooms that are not usually opened to the public will be part of this tour, and a visit to the library with a presentation of recent discoveries about William Acton, Sir Harold’s younger sibling.

Followed by a light lunch.

(Event opened to NYU Community-only)

Museum Meetings consists of a series of conversations dedicated to various aspects of art and museums, including art history, photography, anthropology, collecting, curation, techniques and media, conservation, and the role of museums and archives in society today. It originates in the Acton Collection at Villa La Pietra and expands to other art spaces in Florence and Tuscany. It is designed to attract a multidisciplinary group of students, not just those studying art or art history. All the meetings are conceived as discussions and envisage an active participation.