PAINTINGS PURCHASED BY CIA FROM THE VINCENT MELZAC COLLECTION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06797584
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2021
• Case Number: F-2011-00399

P /Approved for Release: 2021/01/29 C06797584m
THE VINCENT MELZAC COLLECTION
Artist
Number
(1) Bluhm, Norman VM462
(2) Davis, Gene VM402
(3) Downing, Thomas VM519
(4) Downing, Thomas VM 507
(5) Downing, Thomas VM480
(6) Downing, Thomas VM479
(7) Mehring, Howard VM401
(8) Mehring, Howard VM404
(9) Mehring, Howard VM405
� 4Z-q-E-7:Q-7-44-.
(10) N:euvratv,, Rptuez_t_. VMC
ReArvtit U3i7112AmtvlAMI,
(11) Thomas, Alma VM701
Title, Date & Size
Cost
Value
lAzisisL_Otro,h.Te. 1966 $30,000
$30,000
84 X 72
Black Rhythm
70,000
70,000
88 5/8 x 84 1/8 circa
1964
Planks - 1967
7,500
14,000
96 X 54
Untitled, 1958-59
7,000
7,000
91 x 85 6",,u4�ThAt)
Dapple circa 1959
10,000
10,000
74 x 71
Center Grid 18,000
18,000
72 x 72 circa 1960
Untitled, circa 1959
15,000
15,000
101 x 101(0/14/v1))
Untitled, 1959
14,000
14,000
102 1/4 x 96 (441)
Untitled, circa 1960 12,000
12,000
91 3/4.x 81 3/4(E.9.-.0.11,1411-Ur...)
Arrows
4,500
4,500
64 x64
Mars Reflection 1972
14,000
14,000
60 x 60
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7A Y 7A Arrylic 195? $3500
- Howard Mehring Lint'
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/Norman Bluhm Passing VM 45 X 58 Oil 1958 3500
Waterfall
1
VNorman Bluhm French 75 VM 61 X 4 Oil 1960 7500
:-. Andrea Epstein Untitled 48 X 60 Oil 1989 1000
V' - Andrea Epstein Untitled 48 X 60 Oil 1989 1000
Facilities Management Group is providing support to the Fine Arts
Commission (FAC) as arrangements are made to return two loaned paintings,
recalled by the Melzac estate, and acceptance of replacements which will
be gifted to the Agency. On 5 September, FAC members were transported to
a storage facility in Romney, West Virginia where they selected five
canvases, one by Howard Mehring and two each by Norman Bluhm and Andrea
Epstein. These paintings will join four currently loaned works as gifts
from the Melzac estate. Two loaned paintings by Alma Thomas are being
returned according to request. .Upon receipt, existing painting are
expected to be rearranged and hung along with the new arrivals throughout
public areas of the Original and the New Headquarters Buildings.
Transportation, hanging and insurance of the paintings, will be managed
by Space management Division.
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rttiN1114%3J LUHLIE.V 1%-;
Artist
THE VINCENT
Number
MELZAC COLLECTION
Title, Date & Size
(1)
Downing,
Thomas
VM45
Fold II - 1968
48 x 118 1/2
(2)
Downing,
Thomas
VM510
Rudder (Parallelogram)
-1-444-x
a-e79 S-/-8- 1965
111-a" (91)"
(3)
Mehring,
Howard
VM451
Untitled, 1958
28 x 28
(4)
Mehring,
Howard
VM299 "
Untitled
36 x 50
(5)
Thomas,
Alma
VMB
For Vincent 1976
25 x 49
(6)
Thomas,
Alma
VM
Wind Dancing With Spring
Flowers 50 x 48 1969
Value
$12,000
$ 8,500
$ 3,000
$ 6,000
$ 7,500
1.1>E1 17.6
.11b r
cr�
$12,000
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Collection, JP
Proved for Release:
(4 to NMAA
Bequest of Painter's Widow Gives
Museum Freedom to Sell Works
From staff reports
The late Florence Coulson Davis, widow of Washing-.
ton Color School painter Gene Davis, has left their house
and the bulk of his paintings to the Smithsonian's Nation=
al Museum of American Art, according to museum Di-
rector Elizabeth Broun.
"She showed extraordinary generosity, and we're
very grateful for the confidence she showed in the Na-
tional Museum of American Art," Broun said yesterday:
The museum is expected to release a statement an-
nouncing the bequest today. �
The bequest reportedly includes paintings, drawings
and prints, as well as the Davis residence at 4120 Harri-
son St. NW, with studio, climate-controlled storage
space and archival materials.
By the terms of the will, Broun said, the museum will
be able to select from the works to make up a major
Gene Davis collection. The will gives the museum the
freedom to sell or otherwise place his works, and with
the proceeds to establish a Gene Davis Memorial Fund
for research, care and maintenance of his work and of.
20th-century art in general.
"We will see what additional works of his should be in
our museum," Broun said, "and then look at a plan as to
how to place the rest."
By Broun's understanding, Davis also left $100,000 to
the Corcoran Gallery of Art to establish a Gene Davis
Memorial Scholarship, and expressed a desire that the
See DAVIS, C2, Co1.4
.
Artist Gem. DIMS whose of his *aims is 1961.
I I .11 11 I Dequ,ual,
2021/01/29 CO6797584
DAVIS, From Cl
National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection and another
museum or two each receive a major painting. All other
works and assets go to the NMAA. � �
The source said that Florence Davis's wish was to honor
the memory of her husband and to keep the collection in
Washington, his native city. The source also said that she
discussed with museum officials the establishment of a study
center. Speculation is that the Washington residence could
house the study center for the promotion of contemporary
art.
"We haven't made a &termination" on the house, Brow
said. "My concern right now is security. It's important that
we secure it first and then come up with a plan.
. The source-indicated that the estate contains hundreds of
works of art produced by the artist over almost 40 years.
Many canvases remain in storage, but, by previous arrange-
ment, some will be shown in April at the Komblatt Gallery,
Washington, and the Charles Cowles Gallery, New York.
Gene Davis, who earned national attention with his
striped paintings, died of a heart attack in 1985. Although he
was more ckeely associated with the Corcoran Gallery of
Art, it was the NMAA that honored Davis in 1987 with a
large-scale memorial exhibition. Florence Davis, a supporter
of the arts and until retirement an executive of Riggs Bank,
died of cancer Dec. 28. �
Gene Davis earned an international reputation with his in-
clusion in major exhibitions and many museum solo shows.
His work now belongs to the .Tate Gallery, the Whitney,
�
BY CERAID IMARTINLAU-DIL WOMPOTOMIOCKf
The Devises' home in Northwest Washington. �
Guggenheim and Metropolitan musetnns, the Walker Art
Center, the Phillips Collection and the Conooran, among
tinny others.
As a teacher at the Corcoran School and American Uni-
versity, Davis served as mentor for many aspiring artists.
His widow's bequest could enstne that students and re-
searchers will liave access in the museum's archives to the
computerized records, catalogues, palatial papers, *ping
files and slide inventories that were maintained over the
years.
Gene Davis's own wards seemed to foreshadow the be-
quest: al believe art has something to do with death. If peo-
ple didn't die, I doubt we'd have as math great art .. . I'm
sure that's the unconscious motivation for a ict of art�tot�to
elude death. To leave something of yourself behind."
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