John Steuart Curry's "The Freeing of the Slaves"
Painted in 1942 by American Regionalist artist John Steuart Curry, "The Freeing of the Slaves" mural still dominates the Law Library's Old Reading Room. Born November 14th, 1897, this Tuesday marks the 103rd anniversary of the artist's birth.
Originally destined for the U.S. Department of Justice Building in 1936, the mural's design was rejected as too racially controversial for Washington DC. Curry's powerful sketches did, however, catch the attention of then Law School Dean, Lloyd Garrison. Grandson of famous Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Dean Garrison felt a strong connection to the work.
Upon Curry's appointment as artist-in-residence at UW-Madison, Garrison approached the artist about painting the work in what was then the "new" Law Library Reading Room. Curry accepted and began work on the mural, which was located right above bustling new circulation desk.
Upon it's completion, Curry wrote this of the mural: "I feel in this painting I have made a work that is historically true and I also feel that it is prophetic of that which is to come."
In addition to the mural at the Law School,
Curry painted other works on campus including "The Social Benefits of
Biochemical Research" in the Biochemistry Building and a memorial painting
to All-American David Nathan Schreiner in the National W Club room in
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