Farnsworth Art Museum welcomes guests to an exhibit celebrating the centennial year of artist Andrew Wyeth.
Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, is notably a destination on its own. But now, with an exhibit marking the centennial of artist Andrew Wyeth’s birth, a visit to this institution becomes even more compelling.
Curated by Farnsworth Chief Curator Michael K. Komanecky and American art scholar Henry Adams, Andrew Wyeth: Maine Watercolors, 1938 – 2008 showcases many of the most notable watercolors of the artist’s career. Housed behind the main Farnsworth museum building, the collection shows well in a church designed and decorated to reflect the simplicity and calm evident in Wyeth’s paintings.
Adding height and importance to Andrew Wyeth collection of watercolors, this renovated church stands behind the Farnsworth.
Numerous works and studies beg to be studied more closely as you read the well-written background of the pieces and take a second or third look at technique, composition, and color.
Taking a closer look at Wyeth’s watercolors on exhibit at Farnsworth.
For the first time, Wyeth family members agreed to allow non-flash photography of the artist’s work at an exhibit. But we saw few people taking advantage of the opportunity. For the most part, those of us engaged with the works said little as we quietly studied the masterful works and the accompanying descriptions. And we had our favorites.
Flying High, 1987
Wyeth’s house on Southern Island, off the coast from Tenants Harbor, with signal flags flying. Watercolor on paper.
Watch Cap, 1974
Profile portrait of Walt Anderson. Watercolor on paper. Notable: Wyeth “dug” into the paper to define individual hairs on the face and the white upper tip of the ear.
Goodbye, My Love Study, 2008
A study for Wyeth’s last painting depicting a house on Allen Island. To the left, a Friendship sloop named for the town in which it was made — Friendship, Maine. To the right, a large house called a sail loft because it has an open interior large enough for the making of sails. Watercolor and pencil on paper
In a room of its own, Her Room hung along with numerous drawings, studies for the final work. Also included were artifacts — the trunk and seashell that figure prominently in the painting.
Her Room, 1963
Remembering a summer day at their Broad Cove home in Cushing, Wyeth captures the light of an eclipse streaming through a room of the house. Tempera on panel.
“Andrew Wyeth at 100,” which opened April 15th, ends December 31, 2017. If you can visit Rockland, Maine, and the Farnsworth Art Museum before the close of the exhibit, you will be rewarded by a rare view of works by one of America’s most revered artists.
For more information:
Farnsworth Art Museum: Andrew Wyeth at 100
To read more of what we’re seeing this fall in Maine, head to Travel Series: August Down East.
We Travel Happy
Oh nice paintings they’ve got there. I love spending time at galleries so I can appreciate very much the pictures in your post. I had to look at each of them 3x. 🙂
– Amor
Oh, the Places We See
I have to examine good art more than once also. And I see something new each time I look. Then I read the copy posted next to the painting and look again. You can never get too much of a good thing, I guess. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
Green Global Trek
Ooh lucky you! Andrew Wyeth is one of my favorite American artists. Particularly his delicate drawings, and sketches of Helga. Did you see those?
Thanks for sharing.
Peta
Oh, the Places We See
The trip to Farnsworth was a planned one since I’d never been there but heard about it. And now that I’ve been, I want to return if I’m ever in Maine again. Such a nice place for exhibits, and such a great connection with both Andrew and his son. Appreciate your comments!
ralietravels
His airy spaces, indoors and out, alway attracted attention. But I love his portraits.
Oh, the Places We See
We love the portraits, too. The details made us move closer to each one. There are little specks and strokes and so much detail!!! Thanks for taking a look. Andrew Wyeth is truly a gem.