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American Impressionism:
Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
October 4, 2002 through January 5, 2003
Norfolk Southern Large Changing Galleries

Opening Friday, October 4, American Impressionism: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum will feature over 50 luminous works by American artists including Frank Benson, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Dewing, Childe Hassam, William Merritt Chase, and James McNeill Whistler, among many others. These late 19th- and early 20th-century artists rendered wistful landscapes and garden scenes, and lush portraits of women as objects of beauty, symbols of ideals, and subjects of changing societal and cultural roles.

The renovation of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's historic building in Washington, D.C. provides the occasion for this traveling exhibition to visit Hampton Roads. "Impressionism is loved everywhere for its beautiful light and color, and for its modern views of life," states Elizabeth Broun, director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. "Generous collectors have contributed wonderful impressionist works over several decades, making it the strength of our museum. We are delighted to share this unparalleled collection more broadly."

The term "impressionism" was coined with the first Impressionist exhibition in April 1872 in Paris. Defying the rigid rules of 19th-century French academic painting, these young artistic rebels chose scenes of "everyday life" as their subject and often painted outdoors, directly after nature, to capture the essence of what they saw. Their technique of sketchy, divided brushstrokes and bright palette-described as "smearing" by the critics-was an outrage to the French academy.

In 1886 Paul Durand-Ruel, dealer for the Impressionists, took 300 paintings to New York to exhibit at the National Academy of Design, which proved to be a resounding success. Americans found Impressionism both accessible and appealing.

Just a year later, in 1887, Theodore Robinson and Willard Metcalf helped establish an artists' colony in France, in Claude Monet's village of Giverny. Americans flocked to Europe from the 1880s to 1914 to study the avant-garde style, among them William Merritt Chase, Thomas Dewing, Childe Hassam, Henry O. Tanner, John Twachtman, and Maurice Prendergast--all represented in this exhibition.

Childe Hassam (American, 1859-1935) The South Ledges, Appledore, 1913 Oil on canvas; 87 x 91.6 cm Smithsonian American Art Museum Gift of John Gellatly

More than half the works in the exhibition come from two large gifts made to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Seventeen paintings were among a 1909-11 gift from William T. Evans of New York, who was a friend of many of the artists. In 1929, John Gellatly, another New York collector, donated his collection, including 18 of the paintings on view. Five others came from the Henry Ward Ranger Bequest.

Additionally, the Chrysler's collection of American Impressionist paintings provides a wonderful complement to the show. Several of the Museum's most popular works, such as Childe Hassam's At the Florist (1889), Mary Cassatt's The Family (c. 1892), and William Merritt Chase's An Italian Garden (c. 1909) will be on view.

American Impressionism is one of eight exhibitions in Treasures to Go, from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, touring the nation through 2002. The Principal Financial Group is a proud partner in bringing these treasures to the American people.

Local presentation is generously provided by the Bunny and Perry Morgan Exhibition Fund. The Chrysler's program of changing exhibitions is supported by Norfolk Southern Foundation and For Art's Sake.

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For More Information or Images Please Contact the Public Relations Department at (757) 333-6295 or bdyer@chrysler.org

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