Maryland institute - college of art

Offering courses in art and design and exhibition galleries, it is one of the oldest art colleges in America, having been founded in 1826 with the name Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. The main campus is located along Mount Royal Avenue near downtown Baltimore, and has evolved from several structures with the first one destroyed by fire in 1835. Founder was John Latrobe, son of Benjamin Latrobe who was architect of the United States Capitol. Claribel and Etta Cone were especially active patronesses, and under their auspices, the Institute galleries hosted in 1923 the first public showing in America of work by Henri Matisse. Students include William Rinehart, Lee Gatch Jr., Robert Gwathmey, William Leigh, and Morris Louis. Among the teachers have been Israel Hershberg, Eugene Leake, and Alfred Jensen. Sources: Wikipedia, Maryland Institute College of Art; AskART biographies (LPD)