Fine Arts Museums Of San Francisco Acquire Works By Notable Women

SAN FRANCISCO — The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have announced the acquisition of five works by renowned women artists, including Angelica Kauffman, Grace Fletcher, Claude Raguet Hirst, and Bisa Butler. These acquisitions span European paintings, American art, and textile arts, showcasing the artistic contributions of women across centuries and various media.

“This remarkable group of acquisitions speaks to the Fine Arts Museums’ commitment to deepening our audiences’ understanding of women artists’ vital contributions to art history,” said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. “We are proud to make Kauffman, Fletcher, Hirst, and Butler’s work accessible to Bay Area audiences.”

Among the acquisitions, Kauffman’s Celadon and Amelia (Summer) (1781) and Palemon and Lavinia (Autumn) (1781) will be displayed at the Legion of Honor this fall as part of its centennial celebration. Meanwhile, Fletcher’s Cherry Blossoms in a Vase (1886), Hirst’s New York Evening Sun (early 1890s), and Butler’s All Power to the People (2023) are now on view in the American art galleries at the de Young Museum.

Fletcher’s Cherry Blossoms in a Vase exemplifies Japonisme, a 19th-century movement celebrating Japanese aesthetics. “Fletcher’s still life reflects the ideals of the European and American Aesthetic Movement, embracing ‘art for art’s sake’ and celebrating beauty in everyday life,” said Timothy Anglin Burgard, Distinguished Senior Curator of American Art.

Hirst, the only American woman to achieve commercial success in the trompe l’oeil style, challenged gender norms through her still-life compositions. “Hirst’s New York Evening Sun subtly disrupts societal expectations by incorporating objects historically associated with men’s intellectual pursuits,” said Lauren Palmor, Associate Curator of American Art.

Butler, known for her vibrant quilted portraits of Black figures, draws inspiration from family photographs and historical archives. All Power to the People is based on a 1984 photograph by Leon A. Borensztein. “Butler’s work honors Black identity and history through the textile medium, a practice deeply rooted in familial and cultural traditions,” said Laura Camerlengo, Curator in Charge of Costume and Textile Arts.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco offer free admission to their permanent collection galleries every Saturday, supported by Diane B. Wilsey. The acquisitions were funded through multiple endowments and private donors.