With Éclat : The Boston Athenæum and the Origin of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The Boston Athenæum played a vital role in founding the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a fact that is not widely known. This book details this important relationship, from its inception through the museum’s early years when the Athenæum’s continued support ensured the young institution’s survival. This historic partnership was remarkable in its intensity, intimacy, and informality, yet its details have never been fully documented. Based on extensive new research, With Éclat chronicles the joint endeavor in greater detail than ever before and places it in the context of Boston’s changing cultural landscape. This extraordinary story will appeal to those who know these wonderful institutions or are interested in the history of American museums. Winner of the Historic New England Book Prize (2013)The Boston Athenæum played a vital role in founding the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a fact that is not widely known. This book details this important relationship, from its inception through the museum's early years when the Athenæum's continued support ensured the young institution's survival.This historic partnership was remarkable in its intensity, intimacy, and informality, yet its details have never been fully documented. Based on extensive new research, With Éclat chronicles the joint endeavor in greater detail than ever before and places it in the context of Boston's changing cultural landscape. This extraordinary story will appeal to those who know these wonderful institutions or are interested in the history of American museums. Winner of the Historic New England Book Prize (2013) The Boston Athenum played a vital role in founding the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a fact that is not widely known. This book details this important relationship, from its inception through the museums early years when the Athenums continued support ensured the young institutions survival. This historic partnership was remarkable in its intensity, intimacy, and informality, yet its details have never been fully documented. Based on extensive new research, With clat chronicles the joint endeavor in greater detail than ever before and places it in the context of Bostons changing cultural landscape. This extraordinary story will appeal to those who know these wonderful institutions or are interested in the history of American museums. The Boston Athenaeum played a vital role in founding the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a fact that is not widely known. This book details this important relationship, from its inception through the museum's early years when the Athenaeum's continued support ensured the young institution's survival.

This historic partnership was remarkable in its intensity, intimacy, and informality, yet its details have never been fully documented. Based on extensive new research, With Eclat chronicles the joint endeavor in greater detail than ever before and places it in the context of Boston's changing cultural landscape. This extraordinary story will appeal to those who know these wonderful institutions or are interested in the history of American museums.

The fine arts at the Boston Athenaeum, 1807-1870 Toward 1870: the Perkins brothers, the Athenaeum Gallery, and changing taste in Boston The founding vision for the Museum, 1870 1870-1876: the Athenaeum and the Museum After 1876: changing directions Epilogue Appendix: the incorporators of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1870. A detailed history of the Boston Athenaeum's historic role in the founding of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston