Past Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Scribner's Magazine: The Early Years in Illustration

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The exhibition introduced visitors to the importance of the illustrated magazine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and emphasized the primacy of Scribner’s Magazine during the “golden age of illustration.” Scribner’s art editors hired the best artists and...

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Comic Catharsis: A Gift of Cartoons by William Steig

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Although best known today as the creator of Shrek, William Steig (1907-2003) first achieved fame for his cartoons and covers for The New Yorker and his published books of drawings such as The Lonely...

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Honoring Howard Pyle: Major Works from the Collections

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The imaginative and fluent work of Howard Pyle (1853-1911) has thrilled readers and inspired generations of artists. This exhibition, drawn from the museum’s collection, presented a selection of vivid paintings and decorative drawings featuring pirates, Arthurian legends, fairy...

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Inspiring Minds: Howard Pyle as Teacher

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As a teacher of illustration from 1894 to 1905, Howard Pyle (1853-1911) inspired the careers of both young and seasoned illustrators. This exhibition examined Pyle’s teaching methods, which honed the skills of Jessie Willcox Smith, Thornton Oakley, Frank Schoonover, N.C....

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N.C. Wyeth's Treasure Island, Classic Illustrations for a Classic Tale

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The year 2011 was the 100th anniversary of the publication of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. The famous edition was a critical and popular success, established Wyeth among the period’s foremost illustrators, and became...

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Farm Work by Jamie Wyeth

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Farms have long provided rich sources of imagery for Jamie Wyeth. This exhibition surveyed five decades of his lively depictions of farm animals, equipment and the surrounding landscape. Wyeth’s depictions of farm work and life combine his wit, artistry and sense of...

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Barry Moser: Bookwright

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This exhibition featured the work of Barry Moser, the illustrator and bookwright whose limited editions and trade books transcend the ordinary, propelling each volume from a diversion into a fine work of art in its own right. Moser has illustrated and/or designed more than 300...

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Seeing Red: Southeastern Pennsylvania Earthenware from Winterthur

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During the 18th and 19th centuries, red earthenware was omnipresent in the homes of southeastern Pennsylvania residents. It was supplied by both Pennsylvania German potters and regional craftsmen from other backgrounds. Although luxury items like whistles and inkstands were available,...

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Romance in Conflict: N.C. Wyeth's Civil War Paintings

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Throughout his career, N.C. Wyeth was commissioned to paint Civil War subjects as illustrations, murals and even calendar pictures. Despite their different uses, these images presented the war-battles, soldiers and civilians-in a romantic, heroic manner which reflected a national...

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The Imaginary Beasts of Royal Lacey Scoville

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This special exhibition presented 38 whimsical watercolors that form an original narrative written and illustrated by Royal Lacey Scoville for his daughter Eleanore. Based on the style of Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, and Peter Newell, Scoville tells the story of the Lazy Tom...

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Reality Check: Contemporary American Trompe l'Oeil

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The Brandywine River Museum of Art's collection includes numerous examples of the realist tradition known as "trompe l'oeil." A French term meaning "to fool the eye," trompe l'oeil applies to art that cleverly fools viewers into thinking they are looking at actual objects rather than...

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