Overview
Montgomerians Charles and Babette Wampold collected modern American paintings for more than 38 years. They, and later their family, donated the majority of these works to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts between 1982 and 2018.
Like their marriage, the Wampold’s collection reflected their common interests, and a collaboration in assembling works that they chose to live with in their home. They conducted self-described “pilgrimages” to New York City, which was the center of the American art world for most of the 20th century. And like most successful collectors, they based their collecting as much on an education in art and history that they pursued as passionately as the works of art that eventually graced their home and their hometown Museum.
On the 100th anniversary of Charles Wampold’s birth, the Museum is proud to temporarily reassemble the Wampolds’ gifts to MMFA in this exhibition. This collection represents their excellent taste in American painting of the early and mid-20th century, as well as their contribution to the Museum’s representation of art in that critical era. We recognize their foresight in collecting these works, as well as their generosity in gifting them to their community.
Above: William Glackens (American, 1870–1938), Head of Pauline, about 1915, oil on canvas, Gift of Babette L. Wampold in memory of Charles H. Wampold, 2013.15; Philip Evergood (American, 1901–1973), Happiness Farm, 1946, oil on canvas, Gift of Babette L. Wampold in memory of Charles H. Wampold, 2018.10.2
This collection represents their excellent taste in American painting of the early and mid-20th century, as well as their contribution to the Museum’s representation of art in that critical era.
Gallery
Organizer
Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama.
Sponsor
Support for this exhibition is provided in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
