University of Virginia Library

Clark Highlights
Founder's Events

By MIKE RANNEBERGER

Distinguished art historian, writer,
and lecturer Sir Kenneth Clark will
keynote the Founder's Day celebrations
on April 13. A member of the selection
committee reported that Mr. Clark was
chosen almost a year ago when it was
learned that he would be available.

Mr. Clark is actively committed to
public service. After attending
Winchester and Oxford Universities, the
noted scholar of the Italian Renaissance
became director of the prestigious
National Gallery in England.

During the war he served with the
Ministry of Information. For his service
with the government, Clark was knighted
in 1938.

Mr. Clark has received many honorary
degrees and appointments. He was named
a fellow of the British Academy in 1949
and a Champion of Honour in 1959.

He is temperamentally suited to
academic as well as public service. His
lectures at Oxford were described as
erudite and "witty performances."

The London Observer cited Mr. Clark's
"quite exceptional gifts of speaking and
writing" and "easy manner." He has
authored numerous works of art history
and is considered a foremost authority
on Leonardo da Vinci.

Throughout his career Mr. Clark has
sought to make the common people
aware of art, as evidenced in his narrative
efforts in the famed "Civilization"
television series. The Observer
characterizes his politics as "mildly
progressive." Mr. Clark was born in 1903.

The topic of the oration is still
uncertain. In his "Civilization"
broadcasts. Mr. Clark devoted a program
to the University.