March 16, 2005—The 2005 Clarence Ward Exhibition "Books for the Grand Tour: Architecture, Archaeology, and the Dilettante" is on view now through June 1 in Oberlin College's Clarence Ward Art Library.

The show was curated by Joshua Castaño '06, an art history major, and examines the relationship of illustrated architectural books to the 17th & 18th century Grand Tour. It was organized in conjunction with the Allen Memorial Art Museum's spring exhibition "The Splendor of Ruins, which opens Saturday, March 19.

" European dilettantes invested in classical antiquity and produced some of the first attempts at a systematic study of antique ruins," says Castaño . "The books in the exhibition convey a scientific cataloguing of sites and buildings and views that impart the aesthetic and romantic power of the ruins' grandeur. Architecture was also a consideration, as scholars and architects looked for a more rigorous study of ruins in order to develop their theory and practice."

The exhibition is free and open to the public. The Clarence Ward Art Library is located on the second floor of the Allen Art Building, 91 N. Main St. The hours are Monday through Thursday: 8:30a.m. to 5:30 p.m. & 7 to 11 p.m.; Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. & 7 to 11p.m.

Clarence Ward (1884-1973) was the major force behind art education at Oberlin College during the first half of the 20th century. A professor of art and architectural history at Oberlin College, he founded Oberlin's art library in 1917. He was also art department chair and director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum from 1917 to 1948.