Deane Keller
Encyclopedia
Deane Keller was an American
artist
, academic, soldier
, art restorer and preservationist
. He taught for 40 years at Yale University
's School of Fine Arts.
, was just another member of the junior faculty at Yale; but during young Deane's formative years, his father would become the first William Graham Sumner
Professor of Sociology.
As a student at Yale, he earned degrees in history and science in 1923. Further studies led to a B.F.A. from the Yale School of Fine Arts in 1926.
Keller was awarded the Gran Prix de Rome
in 1926. He was a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome
(FAAR) for three years.
His academic career was interrupted by military service in the Second World War. At war's end, he returned to teach at Yale's School of Fine Arts.
Keller was posthumously recognized for his wartime activities. His remains were apportioned and interred in New Britain, Connecticut and the Camposanto Monumentale
in Pisa
; that site is identified with an engraved marble slab.
, Governor John Davis Lodge
, and Presidents William Howard Taft
and Herbert Hoover
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, academic, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, art restorer and preservationist
Preservationist
Preservationist is generally understood to mean historic preservationist: one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects or sites from demolition or degradation...
. He taught for 40 years at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
's School of Fine Arts.
Early life
Keller was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1901. His father, Albert Galloway KellerAlbert Galloway Keller
Albert Galloway Keller was a sociologist, author, and student and colleague of William Graham Sumner.Keller is best known as the editor of William Graham Sumner’s papers in many volumes published in the early 20th century by Yale University Press...
, was just another member of the junior faculty at Yale; but during young Deane's formative years, his father would become the first William Graham Sumner
William Graham Sumner
William Graham Sumner was an American academic and "held the first professorship in sociology" at Yale College. For many years he had a reputation as one of the most influential teachers there. He was a polymath with numerous books and essays on American history, economic history, political...
Professor of Sociology.
As a student at Yale, he earned degrees in history and science in 1923. Further studies led to a B.F.A. from the Yale School of Fine Arts in 1926.
Keller was awarded the Gran Prix de Rome
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
in 1926. He was a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome
American Academy in Rome
The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
(FAAR) for three years.
Academic career
In 1929, Keller began his career as a member of the Yale faculty. He taught at Yale for forty years, retiring in 1970.His academic career was interrupted by military service in the Second World War. At war's end, he returned to teach at Yale's School of Fine Arts.
World War II
Captain Deane Keller served in the U.S. 5th Army between 1943 and 1946. He was a Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) Officer in Tuscany. Capt. Keller was responsible for the identification and transportation of artworks in Tuscany.Honors
- Gran Prix de RomeRome PrizeThe Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
, 1926. - Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, 1946 (United States). - British Empire MedalBritish Empire MedalThe Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
, 1926 (United Kingdom). - Crown of Italy Partisan Medal, 1946 (Italy).
- Medal of the Opera, Commune of Pisa
- Order of St John Lateran, 1946. (Vatican).
Keller was posthumously recognized for his wartime activities. His remains were apportioned and interred in New Britain, Connecticut and the Camposanto Monumentale
Camposanto Monumentale
The Campo Santo, also known as Camposanto Monumentale or Camposanto Vecchio , is a historical edifice at the northern edge of the Cathedral Square in Pisa, Italy....
in Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
; that site is identified with an engraved marble slab.
Gallery
In addition to his academic career, Keller was a prolific portrait painter. He was known as the "unofficial portraitist of the Yale faculty," completing over 160 portrait commissions for the university, including faculty, corporation board members, and two presidents. Portraits for clients outside these Yale commissions included Senator Robert TaftRobert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
, Governor John Davis Lodge
John Davis Lodge
John Davis Lodge , was an American politician, and 79th Governor of Connecticut from 1951 to 1955. He was also an actor and U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Argentina and Switzerland.-Early life:Lodge was born in Washington, D.C....
, and Presidents William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
and Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
.
See also
- Deane G. KellerDeane G. KellerDeane Galloway Keller was an American artist, academic and author. Keller was a draftsman, painter, sculptor, and teacher who instructed students in the visual arts for forty years, most notably in figure drawing and the artistic application of human anatomy...
- Roberts CommissionRoberts CommissionTwo presidentially-appointed commissions have been described as "the Roberts Commission." One related to the circumstances of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and another related to the protection of cultural resources during and following World War II...
- Nazi PlunderNazi plunderNazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized looting of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. Plundering occurred from 1933 until the end of World War II, particularly by military...
- Rescuing Da VinciRescuing Da VinciRescuing Da Vinci is a largely photographic, historical book written by American author Robert M. Edsel, published in 2006 by Laurel Publishing.- Summary :...
- The Rape of EuropaThe Rape of EuropaThe Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War is a book and a subsequent documentary film of somewhat related material. The book, by Lynn H. Nicholas, explores the Nazi plunder of looted art treasures from occupied countries, and the consequences...
- Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives programMonuments, Fine Arts, and Archives programThe Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program under the Civil Affairs and Military Government Sections of the Allied armies was established in 1943 to assist in the protection and restitution of cultural property in war areas during and following World War II...
- Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of ArtMonuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of ArtThe Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art is an American foundation, with the objective to preserve the legacy of people that served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program , during and after World War II....
External links
- PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(Oregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public Broadcasting is the primary television and radio public broadcasting network for most of Oregon as well as southern Washington. With its headquarters and television studios in Portland, OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over...
): "The Rape of Europa.", 2006 film, aired November 24, 2008 - Monuments Men Foundation: The Monuments Men> Keller, Capt. Deane
- Obituary: "Deane Keller, Painter And Art Teacher, 91," New York Times. April 17, 1992.
- Yale University Library, Manuscripts and Archives, Deane Keller Papers
- Image of Keller's memorial at Camposanto in the Piazza Miracoli
- Image of Deane Keller excavating Michelangelo's Bound Slave from protective covering. Yale University Archives.
- Image of Deane Keller with Botticelli's La Primavera; the painting was then stored outside Florence for safekeeping. Yale University Archives.