Oliver Waterman Larkin
Encyclopedia
Oliver Waterman Larkin was an American art historian and educator. He won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for History
for his book Art and Life in America.
, where in 1914 he graduated with honors from the Perley Free School. By this time he had already begun to show his interest in the arts. He enrolled in Harvard University
where he majored in French and Latin. He received his B.A.
in 1918. He won several scholarships as an undergraduate and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his senior year. He served in the United States Army
from 1918 to 1919 during World War I
, as a private in the Medical Corps of the 73d Infantry Regiment. He obtained his M.A.
from Harvard in 1919. He would return two years later as an assistant fine arts. During this time he also directed plays and designed scenery for Lincoln House in Boston. Larkin married on July 30, 1925, to Ruth Lily McIntire of Dedham, Massachusetts
. They had one son together, Peter Sidney.
Larkin began teaching art history at Smith College
from 1924. He was inclined to teach on account of his father and encouraged by his art teachers at Harvard. He was an associate professor by 1926, and in 1931 a full professor. He briefly also taught at Iowa State University
in 1925 and 1926. He was later named Jessie Wells Post Professor of Art. In 1950 and 1955 Larkin lectured for European students at the Harvard Student Council's seminars on American studies in Salzburg
, Austria. Larkin retired from Smith College in 1964, as professor emeritus.
. It was the first time a work on the history of visual arts had won the award. Art and Life in America was further revised and expanded in 1960. Color plates were added and it was updated to include art in the 1950s. He later wrote two more books, both of which were about artists. The first, Samuel F. B. Morse and American Democratic Art, focused on Morse
's early career as a painter. The second, written after his retirement, was Daumier, Man of His Time, which related the works of Honoré Daumier
to the art movements of his time.
Pulitzer Prize for History
The Pulitzer Prize for History has been awarded since 1917 for a distinguished book upon the history of the United States. Many history books have also been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography...
for his book Art and Life in America.
Biography
Larkin was the son of Charles Ernest Larkin, a collector and dealer of antiques, and Kate Mary Waterman. He had two brothers and a sister. He was born and grew up in Medford, Massachusetts, and later Georgetown, MassachusettsGeorgetown, Massachusetts
Georgetown is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,183 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1838 from part of Rowley.-History:...
, where in 1914 he graduated with honors from the Perley Free School. By this time he had already begun to show his interest in the arts. He enrolled in Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he majored in French and Latin. He received his B.A.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1918. He won several scholarships as an undergraduate and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his senior year. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1918 to 1919 during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, as a private in the Medical Corps of the 73d Infantry Regiment. He obtained his M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Harvard in 1919. He would return two years later as an assistant fine arts. During this time he also directed plays and designed scenery for Lincoln House in Boston. Larkin married on July 30, 1925, to Ruth Lily McIntire of Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
. They had one son together, Peter Sidney.
Larkin began teaching art history at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
from 1924. He was inclined to teach on account of his father and encouraged by his art teachers at Harvard. He was an associate professor by 1926, and in 1931 a full professor. He briefly also taught at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in 1925 and 1926. He was later named Jessie Wells Post Professor of Art. In 1950 and 1955 Larkin lectured for European students at the Harvard Student Council's seminars on American studies in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria. Larkin retired from Smith College in 1964, as professor emeritus.
Writing career
Larkin authored numerous articles and book reviews, contributing to many publications including Theatre Arts, Magazine of Art, Saturday Review of Literature, College Art Journal, School and Society, Antiques, Stage, and the William and Mary Quarterly. He is best known, however, for his work Art and Life in America. He began work on the book in 1944, at the suggestion of his publisher, but rewrote it at least three times over the next five years. The work traces the development of American art from the seventeenth century on, wherein he considers not only the chronological developments but also following cultural and social changes. He also gives particular attention to the idea of democracy. It is actually a series of six books, divided by period and each further broken down into two or three sections. It was published in fall 1949 to much critical acclaim. In 1950 the work won the Pulitzer Prize for HistoryPulitzer Prize for History
The Pulitzer Prize for History has been awarded since 1917 for a distinguished book upon the history of the United States. Many history books have also been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography...
. It was the first time a work on the history of visual arts had won the award. Art and Life in America was further revised and expanded in 1960. Color plates were added and it was updated to include art in the 1950s. He later wrote two more books, both of which were about artists. The first, Samuel F. B. Morse and American Democratic Art, focused on Morse
Samuel F. B. Morse
Samuel Finley Breese Morse was an American contributor to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs, co-inventor of the Morse code, and an accomplished painter.-Birth and education:...
's early career as a painter. The second, written after his retirement, was Daumier, Man of His Time, which related the works of Honoré Daumier
Honoré Daumier
Honoré Daumier was a French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor, whose many works offer commentary on social and political life in France in the 19th century....
to the art movements of his time.