HELD IN THE CLASSROOM FOR NO MORE than 35 students, Art and History In Schools utilizies original works of art acquired from the great auction houses of the world and takes students on an incredible journey through art and history. Students experience first hand the inspiration of art through Picasso's Cubism, Keller's Impressionism, the 16th century Italian Renassaince, Fabergé's Imperial Court of Russia and European portraiture.

Students make an amazing journey in history through important historic documents including royal documents, objects of royal provenance, American presidential documents, and they even journey on Titanic's final voyage through original documents and artifact.

Art appeals to people everywhere and has been at the heart of all human societies. It transcends all ages, geopolitical, economic and social boundaries, and in the words of one great artist, "binds us together with invisible threads."

A young student picks up and studies the pipe of King Edward Vlll of England -- and has a profound encounter with history. The pipe was previously auctioned at Christie's on June 17, 2004, lot no: 57A, and subsequently acquired from EAC in New York on January 27, 2005, lot no: 159, The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Art.

 

Following an evening concert and showing of art, a mother and her son study a tea glass spoon made in 1908 by Peter Carl Fabergé for the Czar of Russia and acquired from Sotheby's, January 27, 2000, lot no: B4R. The pipe was previously auctioned at Christie's on June 17, 2004, lot no: 57A, and subsequently acquired from EAC in New York on January 6, 2005, both pieces from The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Art.

In the Stone Age society of Australian Aborigines and the refined artificiality of ancient imperial China, in the elegance of 18th century Europe and the fast moving and complex world of today, art has attended on ceremony and religion, has reflected battles and romance, has given entertainment and most importantly, art has been a deep source of inspiration. It is through art that man has attempted to reach one another, to build peace and indeed on occasion ... to touch the face of God.

Countless studies have been done which shows that art plays a critical role in rounding out the life of a child and to give a child the gift of art is to give that child one of the most significant and beautiful gifts in life: inspiration.

An inspired life is a life with hope and that is the purpose of The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Art - to simply share the beauty and majesty of art to inspire thousands of children to explore their own creative abilities.

 

To date, over 50,000 children in poor inner city and rural schools have had a museum experience without ever leaving their classroom. Dozens of schools around the United States who, due to budget restraints, have had to cut the fine arts from their core currciulum have been able to continue their fine arts efforts on behalf of their students through The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Art.

Art and History in Schools:
Additional and Helpful Information

1. To view highlights of The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Arts, click here.

2. To view classroom set up for Art and History in Schools, click here.

The value of Art and History in Schools is best summed up in the words of Todd, a tenth grader in Florida who wrote,

 

"I did not know I was an artist until you came to my class
and showed me, with your art collection, that I was."

 

Above left: During an Art and History in Schools presentation, a student holds Giovanni Battista Pasqualini's original 1624 engraving 'Christ Delivering the Keys to heaven to Peter', a very important work from the Italian Renassaince, acquired from Sotheby's, lot no: 1CP3, June 24, 2000, The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Art. High schoolers marvel that once in college, they see the this very piece in some of their college text books. Above right: Following an Art and History in Schools presentation, students gather around and study closely a silver-gilt and enamle tea spoon made for the Czar of Russia in 1908 by the famed jeweler to the Imperial Court of Russia, Peter Carl Faberge. This priceless piece was acquired from Sotheby's on January 27, 2000, lot no: B4R, The Christian Thomas Lee Collection of Fine Art.
To return to the main menu, click here