Reading Public Museum presents The Painters of Berks an exhibition on view May 25, 2013 through Saturday, September 14, 2013.
The Painters of Berks explores the school of painting that developed in the county during the middle of the nineteenth century and continued into the early twentieth century. The exhibition traces the formation of the regional school of painting in Reading and its environs (Berks County), which emphasized landscapes, still life, and portraits.
James Arthur Benade (1823-1853), Francis D. Devlan (1835-1870), J. Heyl Raser (1824-1901), Christopher High Shearer (1846-1926), Ben Austrian (1870-1921), among others, will be examined in the comprehensive exhibition, which will feature more than 60 works. These artists documented the natural beauty and notable citizens of the region. Many of these artists exhibited nationally at venues such as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, and internationally at world expositions and juried exhibitions. The Painters of Berks also earned fine reputations among their colleagues and among a steady clientele in Reading, one of the most important industrial cities in the northeast.
An exhibition of more than 30 etchings and watercolors by Berks County, Pennsylvania artists are also featured in The Museum’s Works on Paper Gallery during this time. www.readingpublicmuseum.org