Looking Freshly at the Brandywine River Museum's Collections 
Recent Acquisitions and Rearranged Galleries
(May 2005 #018)

For Immediate Release

CHADDS FORD, PA - Beginning with only seven works of art when the Brandywine River Museum opened in 1971, today the museum's collections include more than 3,100 works. Since 1971, the number of museum galleries has doubled from three to six, enabling more of the permanent and loan collections to be seen. Moreover, an exceptional new lighting system in the third floor mill gallery was completed in late March and will be seen for the first time by many visitors this year. 

This summer, visitors will gain new and enlarged perspectives on the museum's collections. From June 4 through September 5, the galleries will be filled with more than 250 fascinating works by over 80 artists. This special installation takes full advantage of expanded and renovated galleries. It emphasizes the major themes in the museum's collections and includes remarkable recent acquisitions.

Eight wonderful early American portraits are a very recent gift to the museum from Hope, Binney and Charles Hare. The 18th and 19th century portraits represent members of the Hare family and the family's long history associated with Philadelphia. Family portraits have been painted by major artists: Benjamin West, Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Henry Inman, Julian Story and others. These fine portraits will be presented with information regarding each sitter and artist. 

The Hare portraits will be exhibited in the museum's first floor gallery in addition to other portraits from the collection, including Ralph Earl's depiction of Baron von Steuben and Bass Otis's Daniel Webster. Also in that gallery will be landscape and genre work by such eminent artists as Asher Durand, William T. Richards, Jasper Cropsey and J.D. Chalfant. 

The museum has developed one of the finest American still life collections available anywhere. It has never been exhibited in its entirety. This summer, visitors will have the opportunity to view the collection in the museum's new second-floor Small Gallery. Among other exceptional works, this installation will include a superb, important table-top still life with fruit by James Peale, circa 1825, recently acquired through the Museum Volunteers' Art Purchase Fund, and a colorful floral still life by Horace Pippin.

American illustration has deep roots in the Brandywine Valley, and the entire second floor mill gallery will host works by notable illustrators from F.O.C. Darley, Winslow Homer and Howard Pyle to Rockwell Kent, Maxfield Parrish and Al Hirschfeld. 

On the third floor, in the mill gallery, more than 40 dramatic works by N.C. Wyeth will be illuminated by the recently improved lighting system. Also on the third floor will be a large new selection of Andrew Wyeth's work in tempera, watercolor and drybrush. And in the Bayard and Mary Sharp Gallery, visitors will examine works by Carolyn Wyeth, Henriette Wyeth, Peter Hurd, John McCoy, Jamie Wyeth and George A. Weymouth. 

To add to the experience, visitors can take self-guided audio tours. Contained in hand-held wands-headphones are not used-audio tours present state-of-the-art sound quality. The random-access technology of the tours allows visitors to proceed through the galleries at their own pace and customize the tours to their own interests. Audio tours are available for both adults and children. 

Located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, the Brandywine River Museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Christmas Day. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for seniors ages 65 and over, students with I.D., and children ages 6 to 12; and free for children under six and Brandywine Conservancy members. For more information, call 610-388-2700 or visit the museum's web site at www.brandywinemuseum.org.