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As our nation approaches its 250^th year, the Vero Beach Museum of Art offers a major exhibition entitled American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection. These works of art – more than 80 of them – were created by America’s most celebrated artists including Benjamin West, Sarah Miriam Peale, Edward Moran, John Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt, to name a few.

According to Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, Senior Curator of American Art at the Mint Museum, “This exhibition was put together by Dr. Diane DeMell Jacobsen and her late husband, Thomas Jacobsen, from their collection of works by American artists. His last wish to Diane was to keep collecting American art. She formed the foundation to not only continue collecting, but also to ensure that the American people become familiar with it through exhibitions like this one.”

The Vero Beach Museum of Art is one of the leading small market museums in America and one of a privileged few to offer this prestigious collection for local residents and visitors.

The 84 works on display were curated by American art experts and pulled together from 12 different museums. Stuhlman adds, “The exhibition is organized into eight thematic sections ranging from the colonial era to the 20th century.”

Here are some highlights from the exhibition.

George Washington, Porthole Portrait, circa 1846. Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860). Portraits are typical of the colonial era, from masters including Rembrandt Peale and Benjamin West. Peale comes from a family of fine artists, many of whom were given first names of famous artists.

Portrait of Booth Grey by Benjamin West is from 1766. West (1738-1820) was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin (who was godfather to his second son). Somewhat ironically, West also developed a friendship with England’s King George III, who became a patron. In addition to this portrait of George Washington, West did another of Washington in full military dress that currently hangs in the Oval Office.

Moonlight in Venice, 1898. Thomas Moran (1837-1926). Thomas Moran was a premier American landscape painter of the Hudson River School. He visited Venice, Italy in 1886 and ended up painting the city for the rest of his life.

Summer Morning, New York Bay, 1873. Edward Moran (1829-1901) is an English-born American painter, considered to be one of the most important 19th century marine painters. He is not as well known today as his younger brother, Thomas, but they shared a studio and likely influenced each other’s work. He is best known for his series of 13 paintings on the maritime history of the United States.

Peinture/Nature Morte, circa 1924. Patrick Henry Bruce (1881-1936) is an example of early 20th century modernists, an era that rejected traditional art and saw the rise of abstract forms including cubism and surrealism. He was born in Virginia and moved to New York where he studied with Robert Henri. Bruce began as a traditionalist – he was a descendant of Patrick Henry after all – but his work evolved away from traditional painting, especially after moving to Paris. He was among the first to enroll in Matisse’s school. By 1916, he developed a uniquely American form of abstract painting. Apparently the transition to abstract was reflected in his tortured personality. He was always self-critical and destroyed many of his paintings. Only one hundred or so remain. He eventually committed suicide.

 Sunflowers, circa 1880s. Charles Ethan Porter (1847-1923) was the first known professional Black artist to focus on still life works. In 1869, he also became the first African-American admitted to the prestigious National Academy of Design. Porter was interested in nature, but after visiting the Adirondacks for two months, he decided to focus on landscapes. He is most remembered though for his nature-themed still life works.

La Captive, circa 1883. Elizabeth Jane Gardner-Bouguereau (1837-1922) was an American academic and salon painter from New Hampshire, who spent most of her life in Paris. Her genre scenes depict everyday American life. She was the first woman ever to receive a gold medal at the 1872 Paris Salon. Her painting, La Captive, was exhibited there and is known for its high technical skill and demonstrates her success competing in the male-dominated field.

Man and Machinery, circa 1934. Paul Kelpe (1902-1985) was a German-born American abstract painter and a pioneer in the field. Kelpe said his parents were not pleased with his abstractions and they sent him to the US, hoping to set him on the correct artistic path. It didn’t, as you will see from this painting.

Every painting in the exhibition is presented in exquisite frames, either original or created to represent the year when the painting was created.

Whether you are a resident or visitor, this is your best opportunity to experience first hand the works from some of our nation’s premier artists. American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection is on view until June 7.

For more information, call the Museum at 772-231-0707 or online at vbmuseum.org.