Curiosities

Familiar faces

Two familiar faces re-entered my office this afternoon. The portraits of the Mayo brothers are still in need of a little restoration, although most of the damage is to one of the frames. Their disposition seems to be back in my court. Further investigation is needed.


The Brothers Mayo have left the building

The two portraits of William and Charles Mayo that were placed in my custody a month ago have moved on to another home. The AHC Office of Communications took the portraits to investigate what level of restoration the paintings might require and what it might cost. It is still not clear where they will ultimately hang, perhaps they might even find their way back to my office. I have still not been able to determine when they came to the University, but it seems the best guess is the early 1980s. If the portraits cross my path again, I will update on their condition.


AHC holiday scene, 1983

img0010.jpgConstruction workers put up a tree in a precarious place during the construction of the on campus hospital, circa 1983. The photograph is part of the University Hospitals Board of Governors records at the University Archives.

Addendum

Thanks to several comments (see below), a more accurate description of the image is that of “topping out” the frame of the hospital. Although the photograph was taken between November and January, the tree is much more likely a representation of a long time tradition in building construction.

Update

The photograph was taken on December 13, 1983.


The brothers Mayo revisited

img0008.jpg img0009.jpgI have been able to track down more information regarding the two portraits of the Mayo brothers, Charles (left) and William (right), which were removed from the Mayo Memorial Auditorium during its renovation. The artist is Minerva Lyons Eisenberg who was born in Newcastle-on-the-Tyne, England and was married to Martin Eisenberg. At the time the paintings were done they lived in Minneapolis. Mr. Eisenberg either owned or operated Billy & Marty’s Tobacconists in downtown Minneapolis. My early assumption that the artist might be related to the Mayo Clinic benefactor George M. Eisenberg seems to be unfounded.

The two paintings were part of a larger exhibit of forty-seven world leaders the artist put together. The exhibit was shown at the Southdale Center, Edina MN during a Brotherhood Week celebration during the 1970s. Minerva Eisenberg wrote to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to inquire if there was an interest in purchasing the two portraits. The Mayo declined in 1979.

As yet, I have not been able to determine when the portraits came to the University and whether or not the portraits were donated or purchased. There is no record of the paintings in a listing of public art on campus. There is also no other information on the artist. The Getty’s union list of artists and AskArt.com do not reference her.

Hopefully this will not be the final word on the portraits. I am still optimistic that I can find some documentation on their acquisition by the University. I would also like to thank the individuals at Mayo Historical Archives, Weisman Art Museum, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts who have been so helpful in tracking down what little information there is.


The brothers Mayo

collect005.jpgWhen I came back from lunch today, these two portraits were sitting in my office. They are of Dr. Charles and Dr. William Mayo (respectively). Their portraits have graced the entry into the Mayo Memorial Auditorium for years, but now due to its ongoing renovation they have been removed. Little is known about the portraits, the artist, or their donation (purchase?) to/by the University.

The artist’s signature reads: Minerva Lyons Eisenberg.

I look forward to learning more about my new office mates. I’ll update with what I find.