In 1964 The Archives of American Art, as a part of their collecting project in Rome, preserved a record on microfilm, the Donald Sutphin papers, 1956-1964, of the correspondence, catalogs, clippings, drawings and prints of Donald Sutphin, an American artist living and working in Florence.
The Archives of American Art collecting project in Rome began in the late 1940s, after the end of World War II. At that time, the United States Information Service (USIS) was seeking ways to promote American art and culture in Europe, and it was decided that an effort should be made to document the presence and activities of American artists in Rome. Over the years, the collecting project expanded to include other parts of Italy, and the Archives of American Art also worked with other institutions to preserve and promote American art in Europe.
While the records have been available for viewing on microfilm through lending programs to local libraries for years, the Archives has recently undertaken a program to digitize the content as PDF files in order to make them more readily and directly available. The image quality of the records preserved on the microfilm varies, and we have put together a PDF version here of the document with corrections that make the materials easier to read.
In the early 19th century the United States did not have a strong tradition of art education or support for the arts. American artists who wanted to pursue their craft began to go to Rome to study the works of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance, to study with established European artists and to gain exposure to new artistic styles and techniques. Some of the early American artists who went to Rome to study include Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, and Gilbert Stuart. These artists, along with many others who followed in their footsteps, helped to establish a tradition of American artists studying and working in Rome that continues to this day.
American artists began to go to Florence to live and study in the mid-19th century for reasons similar to those that drew them to Rome. Some of the artists who went to to live and study in Florence include Frederick Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent, and William Merrit Chase. These artists and those who followed in their footsteps helped to establish Florence as an important center of American art and culture in the 19th century.
In the years following World War II, a new community of American artists were drawn to the city for many of the same reasons that earlier generations had been: the rich cultural and artistic heritage, the supportive expatriate community, and the relative affordability of living and working in Italy. American artists in Florence were part of a vibrant and dynamic artistic community that drew inspiration from the city’s rich history and cultural heritage, as well as from the social and artistic changes of the postwar era.
There were several art galleries in Florence that specialized in or frequently exhibited the work of American artists. American artists in Florence also exhibited their work in group shows and exhibitions organized by the American Embassy, local cultural organizations, and other venues throughout the city. The art scene in Florence in the postwar years presented many opportunities for American artists to share their work and engage with their peers and the broader community of artists and intellectuals in the city.