Nearly $1 Million in American Paintings to Go on Display at The Huntington on Wednesday

Two paintings recently purchased for nearly $1 million by the Art Collectors’ Council of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens will go on display today and will be on show until early August.

The paintings were purchased for the institution’s American art collections at its annual meeting on April 27. The group, made up of 43 donors from across the region, first voted to acquire The Locomotive (tempera on concrete 58 x 53 ½ in.), made in 1935 by Reginald Marsh (1898–1954) in preparation for a government-commissioned post office mural in Washington, D.C. In a dramatic show of support for the collections, 11 members of the Art Collectors’ Council then contributed additional funds in order to purchase The Breaker Boys (oil on canvas, 50 x 60 in.), painted about 1925 by George Luks (1867–1933).  

“We simply couldn’t be more thrilled about the Art Collectors’ Council’s show of support this year,” said Kevin Salatino, Hannah and Russel Kully Director of the Art Collections. “These are two great and riveting works that are perfectly suited to our collecting strategy. The council made a powerful statement this year that reinforces The Huntington’s commitment to American art.”

The new works will go on view starting May 8, for three months, until early August. They will then reappear as signature elements in a new installation planned for June 2014, when The Huntington’s American art galleries expand with 5,400 square feet of new gallery space previously used for storage.

“Everyone felt an exciting momentum this year, I think,” said Nancy Berman, chair of the all-volunteer council. “This could be because we are inspired by the gallery expansion, which will be glorious for art lovers; but it also could be because we sense The Huntington is poised to become a premiere place to experience American art in the country."

 For more information about the new paintings, visit The Huntington's website.