Dangerous Liaisons: James Drummond Herbert's Fascination With the Figure May 14, 2010

James Drummond Herbert (1896-1970) was among the many highly trained artists recruited to Rhode Island to instruct at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1947 he left New York City and his art position at Pratt Institute to join the RISD faculty and teach figure drawing and advertising. This Bert Gallery exhibit, curated by Elizabeth Sawtelle, explores Herbert's fascination with the human figure in varied states. Through his series of sketches and watercolors, as well as oil paintings, he highlights the elegance of the model's body, whether posed nude or dressed in costume for a theatrical performance. Herbert's artistic sensibilities reflect the influence of French culture and artists with whom he worked while in Paris, as seen in his romantic depictions of ballet dancers. The exhibit displays an evolution of style from the early studies of mythological characters to his sleek and modern fashion illustrations from the 1950s.