Audio Descriptions | Memorial Art Gallery

The Memorial Art Gallery is delighted to offer detailed verbal descriptions of selected works of art in the Gallery’s collection to visitors who have low or no vision. Popular favorites in the Gallery’s collection have been chosen to launch this new program. The descriptions are offered at original speed, and at a slightly faster version for those who are accustomed to the speed of screen reader programs.

First floor: American Collections

Lilly Martin Spencer, Peeling Onions, ca. 1852

A painting of a crying woman chopping onions — Lilly Martin Spencer, *Peeling Onions*, ca. 1852, oil on canvas. Gift of the Women’s Council in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Memorial Art Gallery, 1988.6

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Thomas Hart Benton, Boomtown, 1928

Painting of a city scene with a heavy cloud of soot rising from the horizon — Thomas Hart Benton, *Boomtown*, 1928, egg yolk and oil on canvas. Marion Stratton Gould Fund, 1951.1

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John Steuart Curry, Negro Head, 1927

Painting of a black man from the shoulders up — John Steuart Curry, *Negro Head*, 1927, oil on canvas. Marion Stratton Gould Fund, 2005.31

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John Koch, Interlude, 1963

Painting of a white woman giving tea to a black artist's model in a painter's studio — John Kock, *Interlude*, 1963, oil on canvas. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Hawks, 1965.12

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Second floor: European collections

Walter Goodman, The Printseller’s Window, 1883

painting of a white man hanging up prints in a shop window — Walter Goodman, *The Printseller’s Window*, 1883, oil on canvas. Marion Stratton Gould Fund, 1998.75

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Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge, Veiled Sun, 1903

Impressionist painting of a bridge in pale blues and purples — Claude Monet, *Waterloo Bridge, Veiled Sun*, 1903, oil on canvas. Gift of the Estate of Emily and James Sibley Watson, 1953.6

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Frans Snyders and Workshop, The Fox and the Heron, ca. 1630-1640

Painting of a fox and a pair of herons — Frans Snyders, *The Fox and the Heron*, ca. 1630-40, oil on canvas. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. James V. Aquavella , 1972. 75

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William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Young Priestess, 1902

Painting of a priestess in draping pink fabric against a white backdrop — William-Adolphe Bouguereau, *Young priestess*, 1902, oil on canvas. Gift of Paul T. White in memory of Josephine Kryl White, 1973.1

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The verbal descriptions were written by Amy Mednick and edited by Lisa Helen Hoffman, consultant, with additional input from Rene LaTorre of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired-Goodwill. Thanks to trained audio describer Anita Nicoletta who volunteered to record these descriptions, and to Ruth Phinney who generously donated the recording and production time at WXXI Reachout Radio.

This project was supported in part with funds from the Elizabeth L. and Donald M. Cohn Endowment of the Memorial Art Gallery and the John Steuart Curry Foundation.