The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (256 page)
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Authors: Ian Chilvers
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Kosuth , Joseph
(1945– ).
American experimental artist, a leading exponent of
Conceptual art
. He has been much concerned with linguistic analysis of concepts of art, his best-known work being
One and Three Chairs
(MOMA, New York, 1965), which presents an actual chair alongside a full-scale photograph of a chair and an enlarged photograph of a dictionary definition of a chair. ‘Actual works of art’, he said, ‘are little more than historical curiosities.’
American experimental artist, a leading exponent of
Conceptual art
. He has been much concerned with linguistic analysis of concepts of art, his best-known work being
One and Three Chairs
(MOMA, New York, 1965), which presents an actual chair alongside a full-scale photograph of a chair and an enlarged photograph of a dictionary definition of a chair. ‘Actual works of art’, he said, ‘are little more than historical curiosities.’
kouros
.
.
Greek word for ‘young man’, applied to the nude standing male statues typical of the
Archaic
period. The plural is
kouroi
.
Archaic
period. The plural is
kouroi
.
Kraft , Adam
(
c.
1460–
c.
1508).
German sculptor, active in Nuremberg. He was a virtuoso stone carver and his most celebrated work, the tabernacle in St Lawrence, Nuremberg (1493–6), is a gigantic stone imitation (
c.
18m. high) of a subtle piece of goldsmith's work. The richly decorated structure houses a multitude of human figures, animals, amphibia, etc. One of the supporting figures at the base is supposed to be a self-portrait of Kraft. Other examples of his work can be seen in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg.
c.
1460–
c.
1508).
German sculptor, active in Nuremberg. He was a virtuoso stone carver and his most celebrated work, the tabernacle in St Lawrence, Nuremberg (1493–6), is a gigantic stone imitation (
c.
18m. high) of a subtle piece of goldsmith's work. The richly decorated structure houses a multitude of human figures, animals, amphibia, etc. One of the supporting figures at the base is supposed to be a self-portrait of Kraft. Other examples of his work can be seen in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg.
Kramskoi , Ivan
(1837–87).
Russian painter. In 1863 he led a revolt of fourteen students at the St Petersburg Academy; they left together in protest against academic strictures and in 1870 they formed the nucleus of the
Wanderers
, of which Kramskoi was a leading light. A sensitive and highly principled man, he believed that ‘only a sense of social purpose can give an artist strength and multiply his powers…only confidence that the artist's work is needed and appreciated by society can help those exotic plants called pictures to ripen.’ He was one of the outstanding Russian portraitists of his time and also painted deeply serious religious works. The most famous is
Christ in the Wilderness
(Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, 1872), of which Tolstoy said ‘This is the best Christ I know.’ His style was clear and sharply focused, perhaps reflecting the fact that he had been a photographic re-toucher in his youth. Kramskoi was a hero and intellectual father to a generation of Russian painters, including
Repin
, who called him a ‘mighty man’.
Russian painter. In 1863 he led a revolt of fourteen students at the St Petersburg Academy; they left together in protest against academic strictures and in 1870 they formed the nucleus of the
Wanderers
, of which Kramskoi was a leading light. A sensitive and highly principled man, he believed that ‘only a sense of social purpose can give an artist strength and multiply his powers…only confidence that the artist's work is needed and appreciated by society can help those exotic plants called pictures to ripen.’ He was one of the outstanding Russian portraitists of his time and also painted deeply serious religious works. The most famous is
Christ in the Wilderness
(Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, 1872), of which Tolstoy said ‘This is the best Christ I know.’ His style was clear and sharply focused, perhaps reflecting the fact that he had been a photographic re-toucher in his youth. Kramskoi was a hero and intellectual father to a generation of Russian painters, including
Repin
, who called him a ‘mighty man’.
Krasner , Lee
.
.
Kress , Samuel H.
(1863–1955).
American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist. He became immensely wealthy from his chain of stores and in 1929 he established the Samuel H. Kress Foundation ‘to promote the moral, physical and mental welfare of the human race’. His philanthropic work included contributions to medical research and restoring historic buildings in Europe after the Second World War, but he is best known for donations of works of art to American galleries. Above all, his donation of 375 paintings and eighteen sculptures to the newly formed National Gallery of Art in Washington in 1939 (together with subsequent gifts) formed one of the cornerstones of the collection. Kress was a friend of Bernard
Berenson
and his main field of interest was Italian
Renaissance
painting.
American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist. He became immensely wealthy from his chain of stores and in 1929 he established the Samuel H. Kress Foundation ‘to promote the moral, physical and mental welfare of the human race’. His philanthropic work included contributions to medical research and restoring historic buildings in Europe after the Second World War, but he is best known for donations of works of art to American galleries. Above all, his donation of 375 paintings and eighteen sculptures to the newly formed National Gallery of Art in Washington in 1939 (together with subsequent gifts) formed one of the cornerstones of the collection. Kress was a friend of Bernard
Berenson
and his main field of interest was Italian
Renaissance
painting.
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