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RICHARD WATTENMAKER Obituary

WATTENMAKER--Richard J., a scholar specializing in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century European and American Art and wrought iron, died on August 12, 2017. He was 76. He was the leading scholar on and wrote about William Glackens, Maurice and Charles Prendergast, Puvis de Chavannes and the renown collector Dr. Albert C. Barnes. He wrote both the introduction to the catalogue for the exhibition Great French Paintings from The Barnes Foundation and American Paintings and Works on Paper in The Barnes Foundation. After receiving his MA from the Institute of Fine Arts New York University he became the Director of the Art Gallery at Rutgers University 1966-1969, Chief Curator at The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto 1972-1978, Director of the Chrysler Museum 1979-1980, Director at The Flint Institute of Art 1980-1988, Director of The Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian from 1990-2005 and Senior Smithsonian Scholar 2006. He is

survived by his wife of 49 years, Eva and sons Adrian and Barnaby.

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Published by New York Times on Aug. 27, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD WATTENMAKER

Sponsored by Mark Forstater.

6 Entries

John Dittmeier

October 23, 2017

Richard brought an active, strong mind to the community of blacksmiths and offered a scholarly friendship to me and others. We first met at the ABANA 1978 Conference in Purchase, New York. My mentor, Bill Gichner, had just introduced us. Richard was preparing for a slide lecture yet was frustrated for not locating the slide of the hinge work of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. I had just returned from Paris and had the slide in my possession! But, no, Richard rejected the slide, knowing that the hinge work of my slide was from the 19th century restoration. He sought the original 12th century work.

John Dempsey

October 17, 2017

My condolences on Richard's passing.

Susan Larsen

October 16, 2017

Richard was my boss and supervisor at the Archives of American Art. He was kind, funny, so wise and a very good man. He calmed the waters and provided perspective on life's ironies. I will always be grateful and think of him fondly.

Stanton Mitrany

September 26, 2017

I'm so sorry to learn of the loss of Richard Wattenmaker. Our acquaintance was very brief, by phone, over perhaps six hours only a year and a half ago, when he generously shared various of his memories of the work and circumstances of Samuel Yellin, the Philadelphia blacksmith/artist, whose works I also deeply admire. Even though I was a stranger to him, he still shared hours of spirited conversation regarding our common interests, Yellin among them. What a guy! What a wonderful human being. What a loss!

My sincere condolences to his wife and children.

Jan Brooks

September 13, 2017

Richard came to Carbonale, IL to attend an international iron conference in 1976. His knowledge of ironwork history, his special love for French cooking utensils and his sincere disdain for institutional bureaucracy gave him a special place in my heart. I only saw him a few times but spent a bit of time on the phone with him generally seeking his wisdom on some cultural matter. I am so damn sorry he is gone at such a young age. He will be remembered for that large mind and the special respect he had for artists, especially blacksmiths. I think he has one of my pieces from long ago. Sending condolences to the entire family. What a lucky group of people to have shared their lives with Richard. I'm sure it had its challenges. Farewell my friend. My life has certainly been the better for having known Richard.

JOYCE/JOSEPH WEISHEW

September 8, 2017

Richard was such an interesting and knowledgeable historian and my husband and I were so blessed to have him and Eva as our new neighbors, even for a brief time. We were honored to know him and wish we could have shared more time with him and his lovely wife who we also cherish. God bless you Richard and may you rest in peace.

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results

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