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Robert Julian Onderdonk (American, 1882-1922),
Bluebonnet Field - North Side of San Antonio, Texas, 1920-21.
Oil on canvas.
University
Art Collection, SMU , Dallas.
Gift of Elizabeth (Bettina) Ware Hennessy, Dr. John Roscoe Ware and Dr. David Lochridge Ware,
in honor of their mother, Frances Golden Ware, and her parents, John Roscoe Golden and Elise Hay Golden, 2011.
Click on image to enlarge |

THE FRANCES GOLDEN WARE GIFT:
LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUTHWEST
According to the wishes of the late Mrs. Frances
Golden Ware (’44), the Meadows Museum has received
seven important early twentieth-century
American paintings. The paintings were acquired by
Mrs. Ware’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Roscoe Golden,
and reflect their love of the open spaces they often
visited in Texas, Colorado, Arkansas and New Mexico.
It was a passion they passed on to Mrs. Ware
during the summer vacations of her childhood.
The collection includes works by Julian Onderdonk,
Bert Phillips, Olin Travis, Ila McAfee, Elmer Page
Turner, and Frank Reaugh. Mr. and Mrs. Golden
personally met with the artists in their studios to select
the paintings for their home on University Boulevard.
Mrs. Ware had fond childhood memories of
being with her parents at the Taos artists’ studios, and
vividly recalled her mother’s trip to meet with Frank
Reaugh in his studio in Oak Cliff. Shortly before
her death in 2010, Mrs. Ware made known her wish
that the paintings pass to the Meadows Museum.
She requested that they be recognized as a gift from
Mrs. Ware’s family, made in honor of herself and
her parents. It is a tribute to her family’s close association
with SMU from 1917, when Mrs. Golden
began teaching music on campus, to 2010. During
that time, four generations were part of SMU as
students, faculty, administrators, board members,
donors and friends.
This summer the Meadows Museum will celebrate
this gift with an exhibition to honor the art of the
Southwest and to recognize the generosity of the donors
whose gifts have significantly enhanced the Museum’s
collections. The show will include many of the
works given by Mrs. Jerry Bywaters Cochran, as well
as these seven related works given by Mrs. Elizabeth
(Bettina) Ware Hennessy, Dr. John Roscoe Ware, and
Dr. David Lochridge Ware, in honor of their mother
Mrs. Frances Golden Ware, and her parents.
This exhibition has been organized by the Meadows
Museum and funded by a generous gift from The
Meadows Foundation. |