Charles Rufus Morey
Encyclopedia
Charles Rufus Morey was an American
art historian and professor and chairman of the Department of Art and Archaeology at Princeton University
from 1924 to 1945, best known for his expertise in medieval art and his Index of Christian Art. He was one of the founders of the College Art Association
.
in 1877, Morey graduated from the University of Michigan
in 1899. After receiving a Master's Degree there in Classics he went on to study for three years at the American School of Classical Studies in Rome
, publishing his first article, "The Christian Sarcophagus in S. Maria Antiqua" in 1905.
Morey became an instructor in classics at Princeton University
in 1903, but on a colleague request, namely Allan Marquand
, he switched to the Department of Art and Archaeology, in which he began a career of 39 years in art history. Upon Marquand's death in 1924, Morey assumed his position as chairman of this department at Princeton University. Medieval iconography was a major topic of interest to Morey, leading him to draw up an image collection in 1917 of late antique, early Christian-era,medieval works of art, a collection which would blossom into a cataloged collection of photographs known as the Index of Christian Art. Considered to be "indebted to photography", Morey's stance on the process of iconographic analysis and Index of Christian Art has been attributed by scholars as contributing substantially to the formulation of Erwin Panofsky
’s methodology of subject analysis.
In 1929 Morey began cataloging the collection of the Museo Cristiano, part of the Vatican library
. During his lifetime he made many trips back and forth to Rome to develop collections in the Vatican and established the Antioch
archaeological excavation of Daphne. Morey was noted for his work in helping establish various libraries and indexing image systems. In 1932 he published a pamphlet on scholarly library planning, named the "Laboratory-Library,". In 1938 Morey was named Marquand Chair of Art and Archaeology.
Following the end of World War II
, Morey resigned at Princeton and became the first Cultural Attaché to the American Embassy in Rome. Morey was the acting director of the American Academy from 1945-1947. Morey also helped establish the College Art Association
in 1911 and its primary publication, The Art Bulletin.
During his career as an art historian, Morey published many notable papers and manuscripts related to Early and medieval Christian art. These include East Christian paintings in the Freer collection (1914),
Lost mosaics and frescoes of Rome of the mediaeval period (1915), The American society for the excavation of Sardis (1924), Roman and Christian sculpture (1924), Studies in the late antique undertaken in the School of Classical Studies of the American Academy of Rome, 1925-1926. (1927), The Gospel book of Landevennec (the Harkness Gospels) in the New York Public Library (1931), Christian art (1935), The mosaics of Antioch (1938), Early Christian art (1942), Mediaeval art (1942), Christian art (1958), The gold-glass collection of the Vatican Library (1959).
. German-Jewish art historian Erwin Panofsky said of Morey; "No one can number those who . . . owed to him their place in the world, their scale of values, their sense of direction in life. No one who knew him can forget the brief, warm smile that could suddenly illumine his strong, often stern-looking face and give confidence to the timid and courage to the troubled."
The Charles Rufus Morey Book Award was established in honor of Morey's name by the College Art Association. This award honors distinguished literature in the history of art annually September 1 to August 31.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
art historian and professor and chairman of the Department of Art and Archaeology at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
from 1924 to 1945, best known for his expertise in medieval art and his Index of Christian Art. He was one of the founders of the College Art Association
College Art Association
The College Art Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for practitioners and scholars of art, art history, and art criticism...
.
Biography
Born in Hastings, MichiganHastings, Michigan
Hastings is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, the county seat of Barry County as well as the county's only city. The population was 7,095 at the 2000 census. The city borders Hastings Charter Township on the north, east, and south, and Rutland Charter Township on the west...
in 1877, Morey graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1899. After receiving a Master's Degree there in Classics he went on to study for three years at the American School of Classical Studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, publishing his first article, "The Christian Sarcophagus in S. Maria Antiqua" in 1905.
Morey became an instructor in classics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1903, but on a colleague request, namely Allan Marquand
Allan Marquand
Allan Marquand was an art historian at Princeton University and a curator of the Princeton University Art Museum.Marquand was the son of Henry Gurdon Marquand, a prominent philanthropist and art collector. After graduating from Princeton in 1874, Allan obtained his Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1880, at...
, he switched to the Department of Art and Archaeology, in which he began a career of 39 years in art history. Upon Marquand's death in 1924, Morey assumed his position as chairman of this department at Princeton University. Medieval iconography was a major topic of interest to Morey, leading him to draw up an image collection in 1917 of late antique, early Christian-era,medieval works of art, a collection which would blossom into a cataloged collection of photographs known as the Index of Christian Art. Considered to be "indebted to photography", Morey's stance on the process of iconographic analysis and Index of Christian Art has been attributed by scholars as contributing substantially to the formulation of Erwin Panofsky
Erwin Panofsky
Erwin Panofsky was a German art historian, whose academic career was pursued mostly in the U.S. after the rise of the Nazi regime. Panofsky's work remains highly influential in the modern academic study of iconography...
’s methodology of subject analysis.
In 1929 Morey began cataloging the collection of the Museo Cristiano, part of the Vatican library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
. During his lifetime he made many trips back and forth to Rome to develop collections in the Vatican and established the Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
archaeological excavation of Daphne. Morey was noted for his work in helping establish various libraries and indexing image systems. In 1932 he published a pamphlet on scholarly library planning, named the "Laboratory-Library,". In 1938 Morey was named Marquand Chair of Art and Archaeology.
Following the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Morey resigned at Princeton and became the first Cultural Attaché to the American Embassy in Rome. Morey was the acting director of the American Academy from 1945-1947. Morey also helped establish the College Art Association
College Art Association
The College Art Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for practitioners and scholars of art, art history, and art criticism...
in 1911 and its primary publication, The Art Bulletin.
Publications
Lost mosaics and frescoes of Rome of the mediaeval period (1915), The American society for the excavation of Sardis (1924), Roman and Christian sculpture (1924), Studies in the late antique undertaken in the School of Classical Studies of the American Academy of Rome, 1925-1926. (1927), The Gospel book of Landevennec (the Harkness Gospels) in the New York Public Library (1931), Christian art (1935), The mosaics of Antioch (1938), Early Christian art (1942), Mediaeval art (1942), Christian art (1958), The gold-glass collection of the Vatican Library (1959).
Death and legacy
He died in 1955 in Princeton, New JerseyPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. German-Jewish art historian Erwin Panofsky said of Morey; "No one can number those who . . . owed to him their place in the world, their scale of values, their sense of direction in life. No one who knew him can forget the brief, warm smile that could suddenly illumine his strong, often stern-looking face and give confidence to the timid and courage to the troubled."
The Charles Rufus Morey Book Award was established in honor of Morey's name by the College Art Association. This award honors distinguished literature in the history of art annually September 1 to August 31.