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| photo from www.visitphilly.com |
The Rosenbach Museum & Library, located at 2010 Delancey Place in Philadelphia, was the very fortunate recent recipient of Maurice Sendak’s newly discovered mural (see yesterday’s entry). The library began as the amazing rare book and decorative art collection of Dr. A.S.W Rosenbach and his brother, Philip Rosenbach.
The brothers lived at 2010 Delancey Place from 1926-1952 while they worked as successful dealers of rare books and manuscripts for their company, simply named, The Rosenbach Company. Dr. Rosenbach was instrumental in building the collections at The Huntington Library and The Widener Library at Harvard. In the process of helping clients build important private collections they also established an incredible personal collection. Their home was packed with the treasures that they held onto over the years and includes Chippendale furnishing, silver from the British Royals, the only known portrait of Cervantes, the manuscript of Ulysses and the earliest letter of George Washington. The brothers established the library as a public gift in 1954 in order to share their treasures with the world. The library purchased the townhouse at 2008 Delancey Place in 1993 to expand their exhibition space.
Maurice Sendak didn’t know the Rosenbachs personally but in the late 1960s he discovered that they shared a love for many of the same authors and artists and he decided to give his collection of illustrations and manuscripts to the library. There are now over 10,000 Sendak artifacts in the collection including sketches, photos, proofs and original drawings. The library has mounted several exhibitions of Sendak’s work and also houses a permanent gallery space. Of course, there is also a museum shop that sells ‘authorized’ books, prints and toys.
Their latest project is the Sendak Mural. The Chertoff family donated their mural on the condition that the library would pay for its removal and conservation. It has taken three years and over $200,000 to remove the mural from the Central Park West apartment in NYC and restore it to its original state. The library launched ‘The Bring It Home Campaign’ to preserve the painting and offer complimentary programs. The 1400 lb. mural wall was removed in two sections and then carefully put back together and moved to a restoration studio in Philadelphia. Years of background paint were painstakingly removed and the mural was restored to its original condition. Finally it arrived at the Rosenbach and is now undergoing some final touch up work. If you are lucky enough to live near Philly you can head to the museum and watch the final restoration in person each week - what a great opportunity to learn about art conservation! Sendak himself is planning to visit the library and put the final touches on the mural for the official unveiling next month. That is my idea of an exciting event (much better than the Superbowl). I just can’t help feeling sorry for the next kids that move into the apartment on Central Park West and see the brand new, freshly painted, blank wall..
The brothers lived at 2010 Delancey Place from 1926-1952 while they worked as successful dealers of rare books and manuscripts for their company, simply named, The Rosenbach Company. Dr. Rosenbach was instrumental in building the collections at The Huntington Library and The Widener Library at Harvard. In the process of helping clients build important private collections they also established an incredible personal collection. Their home was packed with the treasures that they held onto over the years and includes Chippendale furnishing, silver from the British Royals, the only known portrait of Cervantes, the manuscript of Ulysses and the earliest letter of George Washington. The brothers established the library as a public gift in 1954 in order to share their treasures with the world. The library purchased the townhouse at 2008 Delancey Place in 1993 to expand their exhibition space.
Maurice Sendak didn’t know the Rosenbachs personally but in the late 1960s he discovered that they shared a love for many of the same authors and artists and he decided to give his collection of illustrations and manuscripts to the library. There are now over 10,000 Sendak artifacts in the collection including sketches, photos, proofs and original drawings. The library has mounted several exhibitions of Sendak’s work and also houses a permanent gallery space. Of course, there is also a museum shop that sells ‘authorized’ books, prints and toys.
Their latest project is the Sendak Mural. The Chertoff family donated their mural on the condition that the library would pay for its removal and conservation. It has taken three years and over $200,000 to remove the mural from the Central Park West apartment in NYC and restore it to its original state. The library launched ‘The Bring It Home Campaign’ to preserve the painting and offer complimentary programs. The 1400 lb. mural wall was removed in two sections and then carefully put back together and moved to a restoration studio in Philadelphia. Years of background paint were painstakingly removed and the mural was restored to its original condition. Finally it arrived at the Rosenbach and is now undergoing some final touch up work. If you are lucky enough to live near Philly you can head to the museum and watch the final restoration in person each week - what a great opportunity to learn about art conservation! Sendak himself is planning to visit the library and put the final touches on the mural for the official unveiling next month. That is my idea of an exciting event (much better than the Superbowl). I just can’t help feeling sorry for the next kids that move into the apartment on Central Park West and see the brand new, freshly painted, blank wall..
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