Met Museum Lecture on Re-Opened American Art Galleries

Bernardsville Public Library will present a Metropolitan Museum lecture on Thursday, June 14 at 7:00 pm focusing on the recently opened galleries of American painting and sculpture. Vivian Gordon from the Museum’s Education Department will give listeners a “tour” of the galleries which opened for public view last January after four years of renovation.

The new galleries are organized both chronologically and thematically according to Morrison Heckscher, chairman of the American Wing, who described them in The New York Times as “dreary” before the renovation and now as telling “the story of American art and in the process American history.” Thirty-three hundred square feet of space were added to existing galleries which had not been updated in thirty years. The new lay-out reflects additions to the collection and changes in public tastes. The space has also been designed to highlight masterpieces by Edwin Church, Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent as well as sculpture, furniture and decorative arts. The popular painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze gets prominent display.

“The new American galleries are magnificent!” said Ms. Gordon in advance of her talk. “It's wonderful to have so many well-loved paintings back on view in a setting that is so enjoyable.”

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.