January 20 in Art History
6 real events recorded on January 20, the earliest from 1830. 2 artists were born , 1 died on this date.
Born on this day 2
- 1830 Born
Born this day: George Henry Yewell
George Henry Yewell, an American artist born on January 20, 1830, in Havre de Grace, is notable for his works such as 'Convent near Rome' and 'Pulpit in Saint Mark's, Venice', which reflect his artistic skill.
He remains a figure in American art history due to his detailed and evocative depictions of scenes from his travels.
- 1869 Born
Born this day: William Sergeant Kendall
American painter William Sergeant Kendall, born on January 20, 1869, is known for his evocative scenes of domestic life, often featuring his wife and daughters as subjects. His work offers intimate glimpses into family life, showcasing his ability to capture quiet moments with sensitivity.
Kendall's legacy lies in his contributions to American painting, particularly in his portrayals of everyday domestic life.
Died on this day 1
- 1875 Died
Died this day: Jean François Millet
Jean François Millet, a French painter and founder of the Barbizon school, is renowned for his Realist depictions of peasant farmers and landscapes. His works, such as Calling the Cows Home and Haystacks: Autumn, showcase his ability to capture the essence of rural life. Millet's oeuvre also includes pastels, drawings, and etchings, demonstrating his versatility as an artist.
Millet's contributions to the Realism movement continue to influence artists and art lovers to this day.
Openings & foundings 3
- 1908 Opening
Hugh Lane Gallery is founded
On 20 January 1908, Sir Hugh Lane founded the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art on Harcourt Street in Dublin, the institution now known as Hugh Lane Gallery. The gallery was conceived as a public home for modern art in Ireland at a moment when the Celtic Revival was reshaping cultural identity. Lane personally supported its running costs while seeking a permanent building, and his collection helped introduce Dublin audiences to modern French and Irish art. Later disputes over the Lane Bequest, involving paintings by Manet, Monet, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, Morisot and Vuillard, made the gallery central to debates over national patrimony and the location of modern art collections.
It established Dublin as the site of one of the earliest public institutions devoted to modern art.
- 1996 Opening
Singapore Art Museum officially opens
On 20 January 1996, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong officially opened the Singapore Art Museum in the restored former St. Joseph's Institution on Bras Basah Road. The museum had first admitted the public in October 1995, but the January ceremony marked its formal launch as part of a larger national plan for an arts and heritage district. Developed from a National Museum project, SAM was positioned to collect and exhibit art from Singapore, Southeast Asia and East Asia with museum-standard facilities. It later became Singapore's first fully dedicated contemporary visual art museum and a key organizer of the Singapore Biennale.
The opening gave Southeast Asian contemporary art a major collecting and exhibition platform in Singapore.
- 2007 Opening
Olympic Sculpture Park opens
On 20 January 2007, the Seattle Art Museum opened Olympic Sculpture Park to the public on the downtown waterfront. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi, the project transformed a former Unocal industrial brownfield into a free, nine-acre outdoor museum, pavilion, beach and public green space. Its collection brought large-scale modern and contemporary sculpture into an everyday urban setting, including works associated with Alexander Calder, Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Mark di Suvero, Tony Smith and Teresita Fernandez. The park also joined ecological repair to museum practice, rebuilding shoreline habitat while creating a civic destination for public art.
It became a widely cited model for combining public sculpture, urban design and waterfront remediation.
Alexander Calder , Teresita Fernández , Mark di Suvero , Richard Serra , Louise Bourgeois , Tony Smith Seattle Art Museum, Seattle