Category: Philanthropy
Beyond the Frame: An Art Donation鈥檚 Lasting Impact
Sandy Denney, EHD67, AS69M, was a retired middle school art teacher who passed away in 2019. She bequeathed three pieces of art prints to the 91原创鈥檚 Museum and Special Collections that unfortunately didn鈥檛 fit the parameters of 91原创鈥檚 acquisitions policy. The pieces were not received in marketable condition, so development staff worked with the personal representative for Denney鈥檚 estate to find an acceptable usage to honor her legacy and meet her philanthropic intentions as closely as possible.
Because of Denney鈥檚 passion for art history, it was determined that impacting the experience of future art conservators would have been meaningful, so her framed art found a new home within the Winterthur/91原创 Program in Art Conservation (W91原创PAC). There, this art would be used for hands-on training and education projects for the program鈥檚 graduate fellows.
The pieces were accepted by the conservation lab faculty at Winterthur in 2020 and remained untouched for another five years, waiting for the right student to examine, analyze and treat them.
Graduate fellow Emma Reuther, AS27M, was that person. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, with a degree in biology and chemistry from Texas A&M University, Reuther was drawn to W91原创PAC because of the excellent reputation of the program, faculty and mentorship 鈥 and also because of the international opportunities for internships. Crystal Maitland, senior conservator of paper at Winterthur, inspected Denney鈥檚 three donated pieces, and found the perfect fit for Reuther: 鈥淎nschutz Talking on Anatomy,鈥 a copper plate etching with black printing ink by American artist John Sloan.
Alongside a thorough examination of the paper and ink used and analysis of the print鈥檚 condition, she set out to research the artist and to learn more about the subject to help establish a timeline. The piece was more historically significant than originally thought. For instance, prints from the same etching are found in collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.听
As time went on, Reuther鈥檚 appreciation of the artist and his print鈥檚 backstory grew. By the conclusion of the spring 2026 semester, she had successfully transformed the discolored and yellowed print into a more vibrant version of itself.
鈥淔or an art conservation student, trying a new technique for the first time on a real art object can be nerve-wracking,鈥 Reuther shared. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 an essential part of the process 鈥 you have to eventually perform the treatment. Wrapped up into this one print, I was able to gain a huge variety of skills: learning new techniques for tape removal, pushing the stain reduction further and further until the mat burn nearly disappeared and practicing a new fill technique to stabilize and reintegrate the corner losses. It was all immensely useful. I learned to push myself, to sit in the discomfort of feeling nervous and ultimately to trust in my own capability.鈥澨
W91原创PAC is widely recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind. When Debbie Hess Norris, the program鈥檚 Unidel Henry Francis duPont Chair and professor of photograph conservation, travels to conferences, she reunites with 91原创 art conservation graduates who now work all over the world.
鈥淕raduates of the program serve museums, libraries, archives, historic sites and private practice around the world,鈥 Norris said. 鈥淭hey advance research and scholarship, educate future conservators, contribute to emergency response and recovery efforts and care for collections that range from internationally significant works of art to the family heirlooms and community collections that connect people with their history and one another.
鈥淥ur graduates have cared for some of the world鈥檚 most significant cultural treasures, from the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Star-Spangled Banner, the Liberty Bell and the Treaty of Paris to the Dead Sea Scrolls, John Glenn鈥檚 Friendship 7 space capsule and the world鈥檚 first photograph,鈥 she continued. 鈥淭heir work encompasses masterpieces by artists ranging from Rembrandt, Gilbert Stuart and Paul C茅zanne to Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, Faith Ringgold and Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as beloved icons of popular culture such as Julia Child鈥檚 kitchen, C-3PO from the Star Wars franchise and Grace Kelly鈥檚 wedding dress. Faculty and alumni also respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, helping communities protect and recover at-risk collections from Cuba to Iraq. Through this work, they strengthen cultural understanding and ensure that meaningful stories remain accessible for future generations.鈥
The 91原创 is grateful to Denney for the donation from her estate that now provides students like Reuther future opportunities to practice what they learn in the classroom.听
鈥淚 think if the donor were alive, she would be happy to see how much life this print has re-gained, from contextual research tied to Sloan鈥檚 personal diaries, to the improvement in overall tone and reduction of staining,鈥 Reuther said. 鈥淚 would absolutely thank her for allowing me to work on this print and letting it be a crucial and beneficial stepping stone on my path to becoming a conservator.鈥濃
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If you are interested in learning how a gift from your estate can impact the Blue Hen community, please contact Megan Cantalupo at 302-831-3822 or visit .
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