Through a new program, endowed by John F. OBrien, a longtime Friend of the Yale Center for British Art, the Center recently received a David Wilkie (17851841) pen-and-ink drawing, Naval Figures Aboard a Ship. The process allowed eleven student guides from the Center to gain hands-on experience in acquiring art. I wanted students to understand the business aspect of the art world but also to come away with the understanding that art is accessible and can be a part of their lives, said OBrien, who majored in economics and history in college. Students who have worked at the Center as guides for at least a year were eligible to participate. Scott Wilcox, the Centers Deputy Director for Collections; Gillian Forrester, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings; and Linda Friedlaender, Senior Curator of Education, met with students to provide training in connoisseurial
Read More: John F. O’Brien Fund teaches students and adds to collection