Before the museums came: a social history of the fine arts in the Twin Cities

Before the Museums Came: A Social History of the Fine Arts in the Twin Cities gives an engaging portrayal of the fine arts scene of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota in the United States, spanning from the appearance of the earliest artists in 1835 to the opening of the first permanent museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 1915. Readers will learn about the institutions and organizations that were created in support of the fine arts, the early art exhibitions and events, and the collectors, dealers and artists whose efforts made all of that come to fruition. The text - enriched and supplemented by reproductions of artworks, photographs of various personages, exhibition venues, studios, art galleries, catalogues, and ephemera - presents a clear understanding of the period and breaks new ground for future scholars to research. Leo John Harris had pursued three different careers before retiring to follow yet another vocation, this time as a writer. He served in the U.S. Department of State and Foreign Service; he was an international lawyer; and he founded a niche publishing house devoted to books on the arts, history, and popular culture. In his retirement he has written articles and books on philately, the arts and regional history, and this passion has now resulted in a well-researched and richly illustrated publication.

Front matter --; Contents --; Chapter 1. Introduction --; Chapter 2. The Producers of Art --; Chapter 3. Early Art Exhibitions and Competitions --; Chapter 4. Art in Public Places --; Chapter 5. The Minneapolis Industrial Exposition Art Gallery --; Chapter 6. Patrons of the Arts --; Chapter 7. Other Important Collectors and Donors --; Chapter 8. Art Exhibitions - Minneapolis --; Chapter 9. Temporary Art Exhibitions - St. Paul --; Chapter 10. Art Education --; Chapter 11. Other Art Institutions --; Chapter 12. Art Dealers --; Chapter 13. Some Conclusions --; Acknowledgments --; Index --; List of Figures --; Endnotes