S. Lane Faison

S. Lane Faison
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Name	S. Lane Faison
Birth date	16 November 1907
Birth place	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Death date	11 November 2006
Death place	Williamstown, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education	Williams College (BA), Harvard University (MA), New York University (PhD)
Occupation	Art historian, professor, Monuments Man
Known for	MFAA service, Nazi art looting investigations, teaching at Williams College
Spouse	Betty Faison

S. Lane Faison was an American art historian, esteemed professor, and a key figure in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during World War II. His investigative work tracking Nazi-looted art was instrumental in the postwar restitution efforts. Faison spent the majority of his academic career at Williams College, where he revolutionized the teaching of art history and built its renowned art museum.

Early life and education

Samuel Lane Faison Jr. was born in Washington, D.C., and developed an early interest in the arts. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Williams College, graduating in 1929, where he was deeply influenced by professors like Whitney Stoddard. Faison earned a master's degree from Harvard University in 1932 and later completed his doctorate at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts in 1940. His doctoral dissertation focused on the Italian Mannerist painter Daniele da Volterra, establishing his scholarly foundation in Renaissance art.

Military service and the Monuments Men

Commissioned into the United States Navy in 1942, Faison was soon recruited into the MFAA, the special unit known as the Monuments Men. Following the Allied occupation of Germany, he was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services and played a pivotal role in the Art Looting Investigation Unit. Stationed at the Central Collecting Point in Munich, Faison led the interrogation of key figures like Hermann Göring's art dealer, Bruno Lohse, and the director of the Dresden State Art Collections, Hans Posse. His meticulous research was crucial in documenting the systematic looting orchestrated by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg and tracing the dispersal of stolen works from collections like the Rothschilds' and Paul Rosenberg.

Academic career and scholarship

After the war, Faison returned to Williams College in 1946, where he taught for over three decades, chairing the art department and serving as director of the Williams College Museum of Art. He was a charismatic and innovative teacher, mentoring generations of students including future museum directors Thomas Krens and Earl A. Powell III. His scholarship extended to modern art; he authored the first American monograph on the architect Le Corbusier in 1961. Faison also served as a trustee for institutions like the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and the Museum of Modern Art, shaping American cultural policy. His expertise was later sought by the United States Senate during investigations into the provenance of artworks in the National Gallery of Art.

Legacy and honors

Faison's legacy is defined by his dual contributions to cultural preservation and art education. His MFAA service was recognized with awards including the Legion of Merit and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. At Williams College, the art history department's main lecture hall is named in his honor. His work with the Monuments Men gained renewed public attention through books like *The Rape of Europa* and the George Clooney film *The Monuments Men*, where his character was portrayed by actor George Clooney. Faison's papers are held in the archives of Williams College, serving as a vital resource for research on World War II and the history of art restitution.

Category:American art historians Category:Monuments Men Category:Williams College faculty