The Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tenn., has a relatively small collection, but they had a few items we were interested in, so we squeezed in a quick visit.
We both found quite a few things to admire that weren’t on our radar, which is always nice.
Spring, John La Farge, 1896
Part of the museum is in a 1904 classical revival mansion named the Faxon House, which was designed by Abram Garfield (son of president James A. Garfield – tenuous presidential connection for Doug!).
The mansion sits on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River. As you walk through the old mansion portion of the museum looking at artwork, the walls and rooms are also art themselves.
Inside the mansion portion of the museum. That’s a portrait of George Washington over the fireplace by August F. Bilz after Gilbert Stuart. The clock next to the fireplace is circa 1830 by Eli Terry of Connecticut clock-making fame.
Rookwood Pottery, circa 1892.
The museum opened in the mansion in 1952, and expanded into modern additions built in 1975 and 2005.
The museum is named after George Hunter, who inherited the Coca-Cola bottling empire from his uncle. He established the Benwood Foundation, which donated the mansion after his death for use as an art museum.
Free Money, Tom Otterness, 2001.
The museum includes works from the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, the Ashcan School, early modernism, and contemporary art, among others, along with a sculpture garden and exhibition space.
It includes the most complete collection of American art in the Southeast, according to Wikipedia.
Gloucester Harbor, Maurice Prendergast, 1918.
Detail on Prendergast’s Gloucester Harbor.
The cover photo is Phenomena Royal Violet Visitation by Paul Jenkins, 1977.
This shows the stages of making a piece of glass art, courtesy of Ignis Glass Studio in Chattanooga.
Birch Trees, Robert Vonnoh, 1889.
The Old Tulip Tree, Ernest Lawson (1873-1939), undated.
The Road, Frank C. Penfold, 1890.
Water Lilies, William Baxter Closson, before 1915. Water Lilies that aren’t Monet – who knew?
French Tea Garden, Childe Hassam, 1910. Hassam has recently moved onto my favorites list.
Close up detail of Hassam’s French Tea Garden.
Cobalt Turquoise Seaform Set with Carmine Lip Wrap, Dale Chihuly, 1986. I love that this is actually multiple pieces assembled into one. I love Chihuly!
Cranberry Sea Form Set with Emerald Lip Wrap, Dale Chihuly, 1986.
Macchia, Dale Chihuly, 1986.
Murano Glass Cup and Saucer, 1920. We saw a lot of Murano when we visited Venice a few years ago.
George Ayers Cress: an item from “Works from the artist’s travels”, 1944-1998. I love that this is just a little something he did while out and about.
Untitled (Venetian Scene), A. Bolpini, c 1860-1880. The reflection on the water is lovely.
Across the Prairie, Albert Bierstadt, 1864. I’d never heard of this artist until we saw his giant painting at the St. Johnsbury Anthenaeum, and now we see him everywhere!
Arizona Alter, George L. K. Morris, 1949. Another artist I didn’t know until we toured his house, and now see his work all over.
Young Woman (Bessie Price), Abbott Anderson Thayer, 1898. Thayer was the pre-eminent painter of the “feminine ideal”.
The Lindy Hop, Red Grooms, 2009. We saw a work by Grooms when we toured Grounds for Sculpture.
An Art-o-Mat! (Art Vending Machine).
The original mansion that houses some of the art on display.
Landscape with Moon, Ralph Albert, Blakelock, circa 1890.
The Birmingham Project: Tyrone Webb and Matthew Lundy, Dawoud Bey, 2012. In this fascinating project the artist asks us to “consider the past through the present moment.” He paired young boys and girls that were the same ages as those killed in the 1963 Birmingham 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing with adults aged what those children would have been in 2013 had they survived.
Summer Garden Path, Barbara LeBey, 1988. I know it’s a bit trite, but I like it.
Subway – 14th Street, Reginald Marsh, 1930. This was one of Doug’s favorites.
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