Hashtag: #ArtHistory
Noted New Zealand Painter’s Bermuda Works
Although he may be best known today as the father of Trappist monk Thomas Merton — whose highly influential autobiography “Seven Storey Mountain” [1948] prompted thousands of World War II veterans, students and even teenagers to flock to monasteries across the US — New Zealand-born artist Owen Merton [1887–1931] was an accomplished... Read more of this article
Irish Artist’s Underwater Bermuda Drawings
In the early 1930s celebrated Irish artist and author Robert Gibbings visited Bermuda twice and — using special diving apparatus –made underwater pencil sketches of the marine life among the island’s reefs. Most famous for his work as a wood engraver and sculptor as well as for his books on travel and natural history, most of his underwater... Read more of this article
An American Master’s Bermuda Roots
The premier African-American Abstract Expressionist of his generation, Norman Wilfred Lewis was the son of parents who had emigrated to New York from Bermuda in the early 20th century. Mr. Lewis [1909-1979] was born in Harlem to Bermudians Diana and Wilfred Lewis. As a youth, Mr. Lewis held various jobs throughout his schooling but knew he wanted to... Read more of this article
Classic Bermuda Civil War Painting Is For Sale
A classic watercolour of a Confederate cruiser painted in Bermuda when the warship wasn’t wreaking havoc on US Navy vessels during the American Civil War [1861-1865] has been offered for sale by a Virginia gallery. The watercolour “Florida — Running Before A Gale” has been attributed to Bermuda-based Edward James and was painted... Read more of this article
NYC Exhibit Of Rare Bermuda Paintings
New York’s Hawthorne Fine Art recently held a rare exhibition of Bermuda landscapes by Clark Greenwood Voorhees, the originator of the Connecticut-based Old Lyme school of Impressionism. Running from December 8, 2012 through January 18, 2013, “Isles of Tranquility: Paintings of Bermuda by Clark Greenwood Voorhees” was only the second... Read more of this article
Historic Painting Seized In Bermuda Resurfaces
Seized in Bermuda during World War Two [1939-1945] as part of a priceless collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art being shipped to the US to raise money for Nazi espionage activities in North America, a long-lost watercolour by Paul Cézanne has re-surfaced in Canada’s National Gallery in Ottawa. The painting “Groupe d’arbres”... Read more of this article
Masterworks Discovers 1855 Bermuda Photo
The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art has recently purchased a very rare daguerreotype of St. George’s, which will go on display shortly. It is, in all likelihood, one of the earliest known photographic images of the island, said a Masterworks spokesman. “We are confident Henry Whittemore, who was an itinerant American daguerreotypist and... Read more of this article
“Oz” Artist Denslow: The Who Would Be King
The title character in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is an eccentric circus illusionist and balloonist blown to a magical kingdom where he poses as an all-powerful sorcerer. In a move at least partly inspired by the supreme ruler of that imaginary land, American artist W.W. Denslow banished himself to Bermuda and used the profits he made... Read more of this article
Richard Saunders: Bearing Witness To History
The Bermuda National Gallery celebrated his work in 2012 with a retrospective exhibition entitled “Witness To History” — as apt a description of Bermudian photojournalist Richard Saunders as any. Mr. Saunders [1922-1987] contributed to publications such as “Ebony”, “Life”, “Look”, “Fortune”,... Read more of this article
Premier Cox Receives “Hall Of History” Book
Last week Premier Paula Cox received a copy of the National Museum of Bermuda’s new book, “Hall of History: Bermuda’s Story in Art.” The recently published book showcases artist Graham Foster’s mural at Commissioner’s House, Dockyard. The large-format edition, features the unprecedented 1,000-square-foot artwork in 208 full-colour... Read more of this article
UK Painter Of Historic Bermuda Ships Dies
Renowned British marine artist Deryck Foster — whose paintings often featured Bermuda ships and Bermuda seascapes — is memorialised in the UK “Daily Telegraph” today [Dec. 15] The acclaimed painter, whose work was bought by the Duke of Edinburgh and the former Prime Minister Edward Heath, first came to the island in 1972 at the... Read more of this article
Bermuda Art Historian’s Preview Editions
Bermuda’s landscapes and seascapes have inspired artists ranging from Winslow Homer to Georgia O’Keefe. And now Bermudian art historian Jonathan Land Evans has just published the first two volumes of his art history trilogy “Bermuda in Painted Representation: A Survey Of How (And By Whom) Bermuda has been Depicted In Art” in... Read more of this article
Book Highlights Mural & Bermuda History
The National Museum of Bermuda has published a spectacular new book showcasing Bermudian artist Graham Foster’s mural at Commissioner’s House, Dockyard. The large-format edition, “Hall of History: Bermuda’s Story in Art” showcases the unprecedented 1,000-square-foot artwork in 208 dazzling, full-colour pages. With text by award-winning... Read more of this article
Impressionist Bermuda Painting Stolen
On Tuesday [Feb. 8] Police received a report of an art theft from a Deepwood Drive, Pembroke residence. A Police spokesman said that it appears that sometime between 10am and 12 noon that day, a painting was removed from the home. The painting is called “Villa Monticello, Bermuda” by the American artist Eleanor Abrams. Painted at the historic Flatts... Read more of this article
Masterworks Commemorates Winslow Homer
A century after the death of the American painter whose masterpieces helped to introduce the island to the world, the Bermuda Masterworks Foundation has honoured Winslow Homer by naming its newly opened museum cafe “Homer’s” after him. Masterworks — which has three of the artist’s Bermuda paintings in its core Bermudiana... Read more of this article
