Wallace Brett Donham (1877-1954) 1933

Curator: It's a rather somber painting; the limited palette creates a serious mood, wouldn't you say? Editor: Indeed. What we have here is Charles Sydney Hopkinson's portrait of Wallace Brett Donham, long-serving Dean of Harvard Business School. Curator: The composition directs us to Donham’s assured posture and gaze. It’s very much an image constructed to convey power and stability. Editor: Certainly. Notice how Hopkinson uses a muted color scheme— primarily browns and grays—to emphasize Donham's character rather than distracting with vibrant colors. Curator: The Harvard Art Museums collection tells us that Donham’s leadership helped to define the very character of the Business School. This piece subtly reinforces that narrative. Editor: It’s fascinating how the formal choices of the artist can so clearly reflect the subject's societal role and influence.