By Kathleen Reid
“Everything I know about art, my wife Betsy taught me,” says Dr. Christian Bredrup, who recently gave a major gift to VMFA in honor of his remarkably gifted art historian spouse. “She has an encyclopedic knowledge of art. It always made our trips abroad so memorable and I respected her insights so much.”
Two years ago, Chris set up the Elizabeth Moncure Bredrup Endowment for Education at VMFA to honor her 30 years of teaching art history at St. Christopher’s School. The endowment’s focus was solely on youth education given Betsy’s impact on so many students in this community. Recently, Chris made a generous decision to significantly increase the endowment to do more meaningful work. He says, “I thought, why not? We should do something now, so that we can observe what this gift will mean for the educational programs at VMFA.”
Betsy’s professional art journey began after she graduated from Hollins College; she moved to New York to work in the publication sales department of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). She fondly recalls those years where she was exposed to various contemporary artists and their work. Years later, she traveled to Italy and toured the Arena Chapel in Padua. At that moment, her interest in Giotto de Bondone (Giotto) ignited and set her on a course to study the iconographic significance of the symbols in his art. To this end, she attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned a Master’s in Fine Arts. Her master’s thesis on Giotto can currently be found in the Morgan Museum & Library in New York. On a lighter note, Betsy adds, “The license plate on my car always said Giotto.”
Since retiring from St. Christopher’s School, Betsy Bredrup has remained a fixture in the Richmond art world, giving talks at VMFA, the Woman’s Club, and the Osher Institute at the University of Richmond. The decision to make this wonderful gift to VMFA, Chris explains, came as a result of how many young people regularly approached Betsy to thank her for teaching them about art. He says, “I remember distinctly being out to dinner and we were approached by three young men who came over to our table. They thanked her so much for all she had taught them. I was so impressed!”
Betsy’s son, Turner Bredrup, is proud of his mother’s legacy. He says, “My mother found great joy in teaching art history. Her students recognized her passion and it warmed Mom’s heart to learn that her high school classes often sparked a lifelong interest. I hope that this gift from my parents will allow future generations of young people to start their art history journey.”
Turner’s wife, Catherine “Kit” Bredrup, an art enthusiast and former member of the Canvas Advisory Committee, adds, “Betsy and Chris are the kind of people that make Canvas special. Not only do they bring a love of art, but also a desire to share that love and knowledge with others. Canvas gives us all a space to interact with people from all age groups. The diversity in age groups is one of the things that Chris and Betsy value most about Canvas. We are lucky to have them as part of our community fabric.”
Cheers to Chris and Betsy Bredrup for giving this wonderful gift to VMFA! They have generously provided an enduring legacy that will inspire and motivate Richmond’s young art lovers.
Kathleen Reid is the Communications Co-Chairman of the CANVAS Advisory Committee.