PORTLAND — For lovers of tradition who enjoy magnificent works of art, the current exhibition of 50 works of British art at the Portland Museum of  Art is a perfect fit.

Holbein the Younger, Sir Anthony Van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Thomas Lawrence, John Constable, and George Stubbs, are only a few of the important artists whose works can be seen in this outstanding exhibit of historic value, which is up until Jan. 4, 2015.

The title of the exhibit,”Treasures of British Art 1400-2000: The Berger Collection,” tells you the range of works that are shown. The vast majority of its traditional early works are magnificent beyond words, which is its strength. Its weakness is a  few 20th century works are not as strong as the collection’s earliest works.

 However, breathtaking are works such as: the magnificent “Edward, Prince of Wales” (Later King Edward VI) an oil on panel, circa 1513 by Hans Holbein the Younger, the poignant “Queen Elizabeth I,” an oil on panel, circa 1565-1570 by Hans Eworth, and the elegant “Dorothy, Lady Dacre,” an oil on canvas, circa 1633 by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, one of the most influential portrait painters of his day.

Very interesting works historically in the English School but not attributed to an artist include: “Henry VIII,” an oil on panel,  circa 1513, and “Crucifixion,” oil and tempera on panel, gilt, circa 1395. This show is a scholar’s and educator’s dream exhibit to be able to see original art of this age and fine condition in real life.

Moving on historically 200 years, to other significant works include such wonderful paintings as: “A Coastal Landscape,” an oil on canvas circa 1782-84 by Thomas Gainsborough, “A Saddled Bay Hunter,” an oil on panel circa 1786 by George Stubbs, and two works by Sir Thomas Lawrence titled “Self Portrait,” oil on canvas circa 1787-88 and “Portrait of a Lady” an oil on paper mounted on canvas circa 1790, are outstanding. An elegant portrait done in the same period which can be seen in the exhibit is titled “Queen Charlotte,” circa 1776, a poetic painting in oil on canvas by Benjamin West, an American artist painting in England at the time. Photography had not been invented during that period, therefore  kings, royalty, clergy, and aristocracy had their portraits created.

Advancing another 100 years historically, the public can see a beautiful landscape titled “Yarmouth Pier,” oil on canvas, circa 1820-22 by John Constable and an unusual work titled “Rosina Ferrara, Head of a Capri Girl,” an oil on board circa 1878 by John Singer Sargent.

Moving on historically, a modern work in the collection of significance titled “Victory Celebrations,” circa 1919, is a large oil  painting by Sir Claude Francis Barry. This dramatic work is in the style of pointillism and is uplifting and visually exciting to see. It commemorates the end of World War I and the fireworks display in London on July 19, 1919.

The most outstanding work in the exhibit reflecting English contemporary art is a portrait titled, “David Hockney,” a tempera and gouache on paper, circa 2002 by Adam Birtwistle. Hockney’s face in its stark reality on a background of black brings the portrait to life and almost brings Hockney into the gallery out of the frame.

The amazing part of this exhibit is that the late William M.B. Berger and his wife Bernadette Johnson Berger started collecting these major works of art in the mid- 1990s and in a little more than a decade have  amassed a major collection of works that museums across the nation would die for. The works are now owned by the Berger Collection Educational Trust and placed on long-term loan at the Denver Art Museum. The collection continues to grow through the trust and approximately 200 works are in the collection now. Fifty of the best works have been selected for this traveling exhibit by Kathleen Stuart, Curator of the Berger Collection. 

An interesting educational participation element in the exhibit located in a narrow gallery at the PMA, includes an empty period frame vistor’s may sit  can sit and have their picture taken in the frame. Various period head props on the side wall can be worn by the person posing for the photograph.This provides a way in which the public can participate actively in the exhibit, and experience a period portrait. The exhibit is hung beautifully on alternating walls of Wedgewood blue and white which gives life and quiet dignity to all the works on the walls in the galleries. 

In conclusion, a beautiful catalogue in hard cover with many colored plates of works in the exhibit is available at the PMA gift shop. The well written, scholarly essays on the background of each work are better than an art history text book.  For those of you who love art books, this catalogue is a collector’s item.

I recommend highly a trip into Portland to see this exhibit. I plan to see it again several times. It is wonderful to see original works in real life that are historic icons from a past age here in Maine.

 

A significant English film series is being run in connection with this exhibit at the PMA. Call the PMA for more information at  207-775-4861.  Dates and titles include:

  

Thursday, Nov. 20, “Sense and Sensibility,” 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 21, “Much Ado About Nothing,” 6:30 p.m., Satruday, Nov. 22, “Twelfth Night,” 2 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23, “Richard III,” 2 p.m. In December, Friday, Dec. 12, “Nicholas Nickleby,” 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 13, “The 39 Steps,” 2 p.m.