For the 31st episode of "Reading the Art World," host Megan Fox Kelly speaks with Diana Seave Greenwald, curator of the exhibition “Manet: A Model Family” at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and editor of the associated catalogue, published by Princeton University Press.

The exhibition and book offer a fascinating look at the personal life and family relationships that shaped one of art history's most influential painters. Greenwald, Curator of the Collection at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, reveals how Édouard Manet's complex family dynamics — including his relationship with his mother, his marriage to his brothers' piano teacher, and his role as godfather to her son — influenced his artistic development and provided him with willing models for his groundbreaking works.

Through contributions from multiple scholars, the book challenges traditional narratives about the artist, exploring how family support, both emotional and financial, enabled his artistic innovations. This thoughtful conversation coincides with the Gardner Museum's exhibition of the same name, offering listeners insight into how biographical research can deepen our understanding of great artists and their work. Whether you're an art history enthusiast or simply curious about the intersection of family life and artistic creation, this episode provides a fresh perspective on one of modernism's pivotal figures.

“Manet: A Model Family” is on view at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum through January 20, 2025. Learn more here: https://www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar/manet-model-family.

ABOUT DIANA SEAVE GREENWALD

Diana Seave Greenwald is an art historian and economic historian. An expert in 19th century American and French art, she is currently William & Lia Poorvu curator of the collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Prior to joining the Gardner, Diana was an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., working in the departments of American and British Paintings and Modern Prints and Drawings. She received a D.Phil. in History from the University of Oxford. Before doctoral study, Diana earned an M.Phil. in Economic and Social History from Oxford and a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Columbia University.

PURCHASE THE BOOK:

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691260662/manet

SUBSCRIBE, FOLLOW AND HEAR INTERVIEWS:

For more information, visit meganfoxkelly.com, hear our past interviews, and subscribe at the bottom of our Of Interest page for new posts.

Follow us on Instagram: @meganfoxkelly

Music by Bob Golden

SUBSCRIBE, FOLLOW AND HEAR INTERVIEWS:

For more information, visit meganfoxkelly.com, hear our past interviews, and subscribe at the bottom of our Of Interest page for new posts.

Follow us on Instagram: @meganfoxkelly

"Reading the Art World" is a podcast featuring live interviews with leading authors and writers on important new art books. Megan Fox Kelly is an art advisor and past President of the Association of Professional Art Advisors who works with collectors, estates and foundations.

Music composed by Bob Golden