You may be surprised at how long it’s been since this 19th-century American painter earned a solo exhibition. That’s recently changed with an opulent display in Wisconsin. Who and where?
It’s been 20 years since American master Martin Johnson Heade (1819-1904) was the subject of an exhaustive exhibition, but all that’s changed with a current show at Milwaukee’s Museum of Art. Like many artists, Heade was largely forgotten by scholars and collectors after his death. However, the 20th century saw a revival of appreciation. Via the museum, “Heade is now being revisited as one of the most varied and inventive painters of his generation.
“Heade was the only major American painter of the time to devote equal attention to landscape, marine, and still-life subjects. He traveled the world and created powerful canvases of thunderstorms at sea, exquisite Victorian still lifes of flowers, and evocative paintings of South American hummingbirds accompanied by tropical orchids. The warmth and sheer beauty of this exhibition make it one everyone can enjoy this holiday season.”
“Nature and Opulence: The Art of Martin Johnson Heade” opened on November 18 and will be on view through February 26. To learn more, visit the Milwaukee Museum of Art.
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