ALLEGANY, N.Y. — Members of the alumni and administration from St. Bonaventure University here, along with a select group of New York art dealers and collectors, met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 18 for a tour conducted by Xavier Seubert and Joseph LoSchiavo, director of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at the university.
The first segment of the tour consisted of creating a Franciscan context and interpretation for several 13th century Italian artists represented in the Met’s collection, Xavier said. This was followed by a discussion of patrons and works of the Met’s collection, which find parallels in St. Bonaventure University’s art collection, he added.
After the tour, the group adjourned to the Liederkranz on 87th Street for a reception and dinner. Sr. Margaret Carney, president of St. Bonaventure, addressed those gathered. She spoke eloquently of the initiatives in art history and museum studies currently underway at the university. Xavier added that Sr. Margaret explained how these were a vital part of the university’s mission to further the Franciscan tradition.
Toward the end of the evening, Joseph used a powerpoint presentation to illustrate those initiatives. By the end of the evening and the enthusiastic response to the tour and the dinner, it was clear that this will be the first of many such gatherings around art for the St. Bonaventure alumni in the New York City area, Xavier said.