Art in Focus: William III July 30, 2011

'Art in Focus: William III' is the fifth annual exhibition curated by undergraduates in the Center's Student Guide Program. The exhibition examines an 18th-century lead sculpture of King William III, thought to be either by the Dutch artist John Nost the Elder, or the British sculptor John Cheere, both of whom worked in England and used lead in their practice. Measuring almost six feet in height, William III will be temporarily installed in the Center's fourth floor galleries, allowing for a viewing perspective that will be closer to the display than was originally intended by the artist. Related works from the Center's collections, including portraits of William III, coins, medals, and contemporaneous sculptures in a variety of media, will be exhibited with the statue. Through this group of objects, the exhibition will address the contested image and historical legacy of William III (1650-1702), his own collecting interests, and the Dutch artists who came to work in England in his wake.