GUNTHER NEUFELD PAPERS, 1949-1982 (BULK 1949-1977)
Vault A45, Neufeld, Unit 1
EXTENT: 27 folders (2 boxes)
ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT: Organized into two series. Series I: Manuscripts, with accompanying visuals and papers (organized chronologically, then by topic/work). Series II: Miscellaneous papers and visuals (organized chronologically, where dates are available).
BIOGRAPHY: Gunther Neufeld, Ph.D., (1905-1979) was born in Berlin, Germany, and studied art history in Berlin, Hamburg, Florence, Brussels, and London. As a Jew in Nazi-occupied Europe, Neufeld fled, ultimately taking up residence in the United States. He became a professor at the Cambridge (Mass.) Junior College and lived for several years in Cambridge. He later settled in Concord with his wife, Rose, where they resided for over 20 years. The Neufelds lived in a cottage on the property of 276 Main St. An art historian, Neufeld was expert in the work of High Renaissance artists and conducted much of his research at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. His critical works were published in a number of journals and art magazines, including the Art Bulletin. In most of his essays, Neufeld analyzed the evolution of the artist’s idea, from initial sketches to the completed work. He died in 1979.
SCOPE AND CONTENT: Papers date from 1949-1977, and relate primarily to the articles Neufeld wrote on the works of Renaissance artists. Published articles include: “Leonardo da Vinci’s Battle of Anghiari: A Genetic Reconstruction,” Art Bulletin (1949); “On the Genesis of Madonna del Sacco,” Art Bulletin, (1965); “Michelangelo’s Times of Day,” Art Bulletin, (1966); “Rembrandt’s Beheading of John the Baptist,” Oud Holland, (1970.)
The collection covers multiple topics and is comprised of notes, research materials, manuscripts, art visuals (original photos, negatives, or photocopies), published article reprints and correspondence. Some folders are more comprehensive than others. Few papers are dated, so the order of manuscripts is approximate, based on available information. Earlier manuscripts are often written in German. Most correspondence is professional in nature, between Neufeld and art magazine editors, art professors, or museum professionals.
SOURCE OF ACQUISITION: Neufeld’s papers were presented to the CFPL on April, 30 2010 by Pete Funkhauser.
PROCESSED BY: mbf; finding aid completed November 29, 2010.
NOTES/COMMENTS: Papers accessioned April 30, 2010 (AMC 185).
CONTAINER LIST:
Series I. Manuscripts, Accompanying Papers and Visuals, 1949-1977:
Box 1, Folder 1:
“Leonardo’s Battle of Anghiari” (manuscripts, research materials, correspondence, visuals); 1949-1950
Box 1, Folder 2:
Leonardo da Vinci: “Felswirbel” (in German; manuscripts, notes, visuals); 1952-1958
Box 1, Folder 3:
Leonardo da Vinci: “Felswirbel” (in German; manuscripts, notes); n.d.
Box 1, Folder 4:
“A Note on Michelangelo’s Venus and Cupid” (manuscript, notes, correspondence, visuals); 1962-1966
Box 1, Folder 5:
“On the Genesis of the Madonna del Sacco” (notes, correspondence, article reprint); 1965-1966
Box 1, Folder 6:
“Theme and Variation in Old Master Drawings” (manuscripts); 1967
Box 1, Folder 7:
“Theme and Variation in Old Master Drawings” (manuscripts); 1968 & n.d.
Box 1, Folder 8:
“Theme and Variation in Old Master Drawings” (correspondence); 1966-1970
Box 1, Folder 9:
“Theme and Variation in Old Master Drawings” (visuals); n.d.
Box 2, Folder 1:
“Michelangelo’s Times of Day: Observations on Their Genesis” (manuscripts); 1966
Box 2, Folder 2:
“Michelangelo’s Times of Day: Observations on Their Genesis” (correspondence); 1966-1972. Some notable correspondents included in this folder are: May Sarton (novelist), Bates Lowry (founding director of the National Building Museum), A.E. Popham (UK based art historian), Marguerite Yourcenar (French novelist).
Box 2, Folder 3:
“Evolution of Parmigianino’s Madonna del Collo Lungo” (manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, visuals); 1966-1972
Box 2, Folder 4:
“On a Drawing by Pisanello” (manuscript, correspondence); 1967-1968
Box 2, Folder 5:
“Rembrandt’s Beheading of John the Baptist” (manuscript, visuals); 1970
Box 2, Folder 6:
“The Evolution of Parmigianino’s St. Roch” (manuscript, correspondence, article reprint); 1971-1972
Box 2, Folder 7:
“Drawings by Leonardo: Observations on His Inventive Procedure” (manuscripts, correspondence, research materials); 1971-1975
Box 2, Folder 8:
“The Virgin with the Pear: A Note on Albrecht Dürer’s Engraving” (manuscripts, visuals); 1972
Box 2, Folder 9:
“Michelangelo’s Oxford Drawing of the Virgin and Christ Child with St. Anne” (manuscripts, notes, visuals); 1972
Box 2, Folder 10:
“A Study of on Rodolphe Bresdin” (research materials, notes , visuals); 1977
Box 2, Folder 11:
“Leonardo da Vinci; Weltende/Heydenreich” (in German; manuscript); n.d.
Box 2, Folder:
“Leonardo: Sintflut” (in German; manuscript, notes); n.d.
Box 2, Folder 12:
“A Study of Parmigianino” (visuals); n.d.
Box 2, Folder 13:
“On Supposedly Early Drawings by Sebastiano del Piombo” (manuscript, notes, visuals); n.d.
Box 2, Folder 14:
“A Study of Passarotti: Hands” (manuscript, visuals); n.d.
Box 2, Folder 15:
“On the Sketches in the Casa Buonarroti” (manuscript, visuals); n.d.
Series II. Miscellaneous Personal Papers and Visuals, 1949-1982:
Box 2, Folder 16:
Miscellaneous: Visuals (artwork, personal photos); n.d.
Box 2, Folder 17:
Miscellaneous: Personal Papers (misc. professional papers, correspondence, newspaper clippings); 1949-1982
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Not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the Curator of the William Munroe Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library.
Mounted 1 Dec 2010. rcwh.