Works by Rodin and Pissarro on Display from the Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Collection

Garden City, NY
September 17, 2009

Adelphi University is pleased to host an exhibition of artwork on loan courtesy of the Adele and Herbert J. Klapper collection from Sunday, October 4 to Thursday, October 8, 2009. Rare pieces from Auguste Rodin and Camille Pissarro will be on display in the Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Center for Fine Arts, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. Admission is free.

The exhibition will include three pieces being loaned to the University by Adele Klapper ’92, M.A. ’99. “L’Eternel Printemps – premier état,” by Auguste Rodin, is a bronze sculpture depicting the passionate embrace of two young lovers. The graceful form is signed and stamped with a foundry mark on the base. While Rodin is often remembered for his other works such as “The Gates of Hell” and “The Thinker,” this piece represents a more fanciful expression of emotion and movement.

Two oil on canvas paintings by Camille Pissarro will also be on display during the exhibition: “Avenue de L’Opéra, Place du Théâtre Français” and “Le Marchè de Gisors, rue Cappeville.” Though Pissarro often worked on more rural scenes, he has been described as one of the most serious urban impressionists, which is evident in both of these pieces. In “Avenue de L’Opéra,” he depicts the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as its never-ending feel as the buildings all fade into the horizon. In “Le Marchè de Gisors,” he again shows a feeling of congestion in an urban marketplace, yet also manages to incorporate a rural atmosphere by including a field in the background, as well as the agricultural wares being sold at the market. The saturated colors and brushstrokes create texture in the piece, and allow the various classes of the characters to be made apparent.

Mrs. Klapper has long been a valued supporter of Adelphi through her generous loans of artwork to the University. The collection she and her late husband, Herbert, had acquired has been an integral part of on-campus exhibitions. In 2007, Mrs. Klapper was honored with the Outstanding Service to Adelphi award at its annual President’s Gala. She also received the President’s Medal of Merit, which is the highest recognition from an Adelphi president. Mrs. Klapper's long-held dream of attending college was fulfilled when she graduated with a B.A. in art from Adelphi University in 1992, at the age of 62, and an M.A. in art in 1999.

The Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Center for Fine Arts Gallery is open Sunday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information about this and other upcoming art exhibitions, please visit http://www.adelphi.edu/artmuseum/exhibitions/.

About Adelphi University: Adelphi University, chartered in 1896, was the first institution of higher education for the liberal arts and sciences on Long Island. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,500 students from 41 states and 63 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.


Media Contact
For additional information, please contact:

Kali Chan Media Relations Director p - 516.877.4040 f - 516.877.3266 e - chan@adelphi.edu