The Life Story of a Mandolin that Toured the Klondike

*The talk will be held in the Charles Pink House at the library. 

Recovering the Life Story of a Neapolitan Mandolin that Toured the Klondike

Art historian David Levine is writing the story of a timeworn mandolin in his possession that, he has learned, led a privileged and adventurous existence in days gone by.  Produced in a distinguished workshop near the port of Naples in 1886, the instrument soon journeyed to America where it witnessed and helped to fuel the avid fascination with mandolins, the so-called “mandolin craze,” then sweeping the country.  During the summer of 1898 it took part in a storied expedition to Dawson City, Yukon, the epicenter of the Klondike gold rush then at its frenzied height, voyaging by barge over 1500 miles up the Yukon River through Alaska to get there.  Central to David’s account are the undertakings of the mandolin’s first American owner, Mary E. Hitchcock (1849-1920).  Mrs. Hitchcock traveled extensively with her prized instrument, transforming herself from a wannabe socialite into an internationally recognized author, lecturer, and champion of women in the process.  David is delighted to share with you more about his topic and the methods that he has used to cajole his mandolin into divulging its fascinating tale

David Levine taught Art History in Connecticut for over forty years. The author of scholarly articles, catalogs and the editor of two books, he has received awards from institutes such as the National Gallery of Art, J.P. Getty Foundation, and the American Academy in Rome. In 2017 Connecticut Board of Regents from Higher Education named him "Connecticut State University Professor," an honor for lifetime academic achievement. David's projects have usually focused upon European paintings whose significance has been lost in the fog of time. His present study extents his passion fro restoring the dignity of forgotten works of art into a new arena. He plays the guitar and banjo, but not the mandolin.