The American Art galleries have been under construction for months, but last week I was lucky to get a sneak preview of these stunning works of art before they go on display to the public again in mid-April. As I listened to our curators make final decisions about where objects will go and watched our installation staff install each piece, I became more and more excited about the opening.
I was thrilled to revisit old favorites from the collection, like Raphaelle Peale’s Venus Rising From the Sea—A Deception and Charles Sheeler’s Conference No. 1. These paintings were completed more than a century apart from one another—the collection spans from the 17th century through World War II—but they are both wonderful examples of specific moments in American art and culture.
The freshly-painted walls throughout the galleries help bring out the rich colors and details of these and other works. The curators have carefully chosen a palette that reflects the history behind them. One curator told me that when many of these paintings were originally displayed, they would have been hung on colored walls rather than the white gallery walls we usually see.
My favorite part about the new galleries is the seamless integration of pieces of decorative art. Finely-crafted furniture, detailed vases, elaborate clocks—adorn many rooms. These pieces add three-dimensional texture and vibrancy to the galleries and interact with the paintings to enhance both collections. Walking around, I easily imagined connections between these decorative pieces and the paintings that gave me a better understanding of their social and historical contexts.
The new galleries are incredible, and I really hated to leave even after I wandered around every room. I’m planning to visit again as soon as they re-open on April 22, and I hope to report back even more after another look!