Night Songs

between 1953 and 1955

Joseph Cornell American, 1903-1972

Not On View

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

Title Night Songs

Artwork Date between 1953 and 1955

Artist Joseph Cornell

Life Dates 1903-1972

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Unknown

Medium Wood, glass, xeroxed photographs, paint, spring, compass and other objects

Dimensions Overall: 16 15/16 × 10 3/16 × 4 3/16 inches (43 × 25.9 × 10.6 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Contemporary Art after 1950

Credit Founders Society Purchase, W. Hawkins Ferry Fund, Catherine Kresge Dewey Fund; gift of Mrs. George Kamperman by exchange

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 1993.77

Markings

Signed Signed, on verso

Inscriptions ------

Provenance

the artist

1970, private collector. Donald Morris Gallery

1993-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Published References

Percy, Ann and Mark Rosenthal. Philadelphia Collects: Art Since 1940. Exh. cat., Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, 1986, p. 22 (ill.).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Joseph Cornell, Night Songs, between 1953 and 1955, wood, glass, xeroxed photographs, paint, spring, compass and other objects. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, W. Hawkins Ferry Fund, Catherine Kresge Dewey Fund; gift of Mrs. George Kamperman by exchange, 1993.77.