A museum of antiquities, the result of the largest gift of art in Fordham’s history, was dedicated on Dec. 6 at the William D. Walsh Family Library. The new Fordham Museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art occupies 4,000 square feet of space in the former periodicals reading room. It features more than 260 antiquities dating from the 10th century B.C. through the 3rd century A.D. Among the items on display are:
- A terracotta patera (shallow bowl) with knob handles, ca. 340 B.C.;
- A kylix (drinking cup with two handles), attributed to the Painter of Berlin 2268, a vase painter of the late sixth century B.C.;
- A portrait of Julia Aquilia Severa, the second and fourth wife of Emperor Elagabalus, A.D. 220-222; and
- A portrait of the emperor Hadrian from the second century A.D.
The collection was donated by Fordham alumnus William D. Walsh (FCRH ’51), and his wife Jane, longtime benefactors of the University.
Among those who were in attendance were Walsh, President Joseph M. McShane, S.J., John Tognino, chair of the Fordham Board of Trustees, and Jennifer Udell, curator of University art. Other invited guests included all members of the Board of Trustees and the President’s Council; representatives of New York City cultural and political institutions; and additional members of the Walsh family.
A Bronx native, Walsh is the founder and general partner of Sequoia Associates, a private investment firm in Menlo Park, Calif. He amassed his collection over a period of three decades, keeping it at his home until donating it to the University in the spring.
A special media preview of the new Museum took place on Dec. 5. Articles about the collection appeared in the New York Times and the New York Sun.
Information about visiting the Museum can be obtained by calling 718-817-3590.
