DSCN1370 1430 William J. Battle Collection - 19th Century Reproductions, Blanton Museum

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• published: 23 Jul 2014
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19th Century reproductions of Greco-Roman Sculptures, Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin The William J. Battle Collection of Plaster Casts replicates some of the finest examples of Greek and Roman sculpture and architectural elements, the originals of which date from the 6th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. The casts were purchased with funds from the University's Department of Classical Languages between 1894 and 1923 at the behest of the late Dr. Battle, a longtime classics professor, who served as president ad interim from 1914 to 1916. The majority of the works were cast in the late 19th century by August Gerber in Cologne , Germany, and the Caproni Brothers in Boston. In the late 1970's, after more than 25 years in storage, the collection underwent extensive restoration made possible with discretionary funds provided by the President's Associates. This collection is considered one of the most representative of casts of classical Greek and Roman sculpture in the United States and is thought to be in the best state of preservation of any such collection. Blanton Museum of Art, The Univeristy of Texas at Austin http://matthewfelixsun.blogspot.com/2014/08/blanton-museum-of-art-univeristy-of.htm Before I dive into the vast painting and modern installation collection of the museum, I want to address another singular collection - William J. Battle Collection of Plaster Casts, which consisted of "some of the finest examples of Greek and Roman sculpture and architectural elements, the originals of which date from the 6th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. The casts were purchased with funds from the University's Department of Classical Languages between 1894 and 192. The majority of the works were cast in the late 19th century by August Gerber in Cologne , Germany, and the Caproni Brothers in Boston."[source: Blanton Museum of Art] Sure, they were not originals, but it was deeply satisfying and gratifying to see so many wonderful works at the same setting, a similar experience I had at the Archeology Department of the University of Graz, Austria. The center of this collection was housed in an oval room, whose middle was the Dying Gaul.