A generous vision for Harvard Art Museums
In July, Martha Tedeschi became the new Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the Harvard Art Museums. Prior to arriving at Harvard, Tedeschi was the deputy director for art and research at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she began her career as an Art National Endowment for the Arts intern in 1982 and became a full curator in 1999. A specialist in British and American art, Tedeschi recently spoke with the Gazette about her work in the museum world and her new role at Harvard. GAZETTE: How did you get interested in art, and why did you decide to make it your life’s work? TEDESCHI: My father is a historian. He completed both his bachelor’s degree and his Ph.D. at Harvard, and whenever he would have a sabbatical we would live in Europe — Italy mostly. So at a pretty young age I was exposed to beautiful churches, great museums,...