NEWPORT -- What could be a more appropriate addition to the
Newport Art Museum's permanent collection than a watercolor depicting a
setting just three miles away and painted by a celebrated artist who
once lived here?
The museum is hailing the recent acquisition of "Paradise Valley,
Middletown, Rhode Island," which William Trost Richards created in 1881.
Richards lived on Gibbs Avenue, in Newport, when he painted the scene
that is now part of Middletown's Norman Bird Sanctuary.
Richards has been the subject of three major museum exhibitions in the
United States during the past two years.
"This painting is a momentous addition to our collection -- it's a
perfect fit for us given the strong ties William Trost Richards had with
the area and the proximity of this spectacular scene," said curator
Nancy Whipple Grinnell.
Richards first came to Newport from his native Philadelphia in the early
1870s. His paintings of the Rhode Island coast quickly made him famous.
As an early member of the American Watercolor Society, he sought to
elevate the status of the medium and began experimenting with works as
large as oils. He freely applied gouache, a type of watercolor thickened
with glue, to heavy fibrous paper to lend the effect of oil. "Paradise
Valley" is an example of the technique.
The museum acquired the painting directly from Richards' descendants.
Musuem trustee William Vareika, who is friendly with the family, helped
coordinate the acquisition.
"This purchase of a historical artwork by the Newport Art Museum is the
first in many years," said Vareika. "The success of this project
indicates that the Richards family and the local and national arts
communities have tremendous confidence in the museum."
The family donated a substantial portion of the value of the painting.
Proceeds of a testimonial in honor of long-time museum trustee Richard
Grosvenor and a benefit exhibition at William Vareika Fine Arts raised
the rest.
"I know that Dick Grosvenor admires Richards' watercolors and it is
fitting that Dick would support the cause with funds from his popular
testimonial," Vareika said. "I am also pleased that hundreds of donors
from Rhode Island and throughout the country supported our gallery
benefit to make the acquisition possible."
