The Cummer Gallery of Art, built on the site of the home of Arthur Gerrish Cummer and Ninah May Holden Cummer, was dedicated at a glittering reception held on November 10, 1961.

Opening night, November 10, 1961

One thousand guests attended, including Florida Governor Farris Bryant and Jacksonville Mayor Haydon Burns. Governor Bryant said that he “was moved to walk on tiptoes and whisper when confronting the magnificence of the museum.” He felt that “It is impossible to add to the luster, romance or significance…I know of no elevation of spirit in the history of Florida greater than that displayed here.” In the same vein. Mayor Bums added, “The people of Jacksonville have never received a gift comparable in generosity or beauty to the museum… a testament to the heritage of the past and representing the strength and character of those who were leaders of Jacksonville in the past.”

Guests enjoyed music by Gerson Yessin, pianist and members of the I Musici Society.

Opening night in the Museum lobby

The artwork displayed consisted of the works acquired by the Cummers, as well as three special exhibitions: a collection of 51 etchings by the Scottish-American artist James McBey, now part of the Museum’s permanent collection, a selection of French paintings on loan from a New York gallery, and an exhibition of American art on loan from the National Academy of Design.

Opening night in the galleries

1. Norman Rockwell (American, 1894 – 1978), Second Holiday, 1939, oil on canvas, 33 ¾ x 47 ¼ in., Purchased with funds from the Morton R. Hirschberg Memorial Fund, AP.2005.6.1.

2. Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577 – 1640), The Lamentation of Christ, c.1605, oil on copper, 11 x 9 ½ in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.131.1.

3. Severin Roesen (American, c. 1816 – c. 1872), Still Life with Flowers, Fruit and Bird’s Nest, c. 1865, oil on canvas, 36 x 28 ½ in., Gift of Diane DeMell Jacobsen, Ph. D. in loving memory of her husband Thomas H. Jacobsen, AG.2003.2.1.

4. John Singer Sargent (American, 1856 – 1925), In the Alps, 1911, oil on canvas, 20 x 28 1/16 in., Museum purchase with Council funds, AP.1990.20.1.

How well do you know The Cummer?  If you think you can identify these items—currently on display throughout the Museum as 50 Favorites.  Write your guesses in the comment section below and we will give the answers in two weeks, along with the next challenge.  One winner will receive a complimentary one-day pass to the Museum.  Good luck!

1. Thomas Moran (American, 1837 – 1926), Ponce de León in Florida, 1877 – 1878, oil on canvas, 64 ¾ x 115 7/8 in., Acquired for the people of Florida by The Frederick H. Schultz Family and Bank of America.  Additional funding provided by the Cummer Council, AP.1996.2.1.

2. Ralph Scarlett (American, 1889 – 1984), Abstraction, c. 1934, oil on canvas, 52 x 39 in., Museum purchase with funds provided by the Morton R. Hirschberg Memorial Fund and gifts from Diane DeMell Jacobsen, Ph.D. in loving memory of her husband Thomas H. Jacobsen and James and Diane Burke in memory of Thomas H. Jacobsen, AP.2005.1.1.

3. Theodoor Rombouts (Flemish, 1597 – 1637), The Concert (A Musical Party), c.1620, oil on canvas, 44 7/8 x 68 7/8 in., Museum Purchase with funds by Eunice Pitt Odom Semmes, AP.1970.10.1.

4. Workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian, 1598 – 1680), Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu, c. 1641, marble, 26 in., Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Lane, Jr., AG.1970.7.1.

1. Gustave Leonard de Jonghe (Belgian, 1829 – 1893), (L’admiratrice du Japon), The Japanese Fan, c. 1865, oil on canvas, 44 ¼ x 34 1/16 in., Gift of the Francis & Miranda Childress Foundation, AG.1988.3.1.

2. Marie Laurencin (French, 1885 – 1956), Woman with Guitar (Femme et Mandolin), 1943, oil on canvas, 33 ¾ x 29 3/8 in., Gift from Jack and Marcelle Bear, in honor of John S. Bunker, AG.1995.2.1.

3. John Frederick Kensett (American, 1816 – 1872), Marine View of Beacon Rock, Newport Harbor, 1864, oil on canvas, 28 ½ x 45 ¾ in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.157.1.

4. Johann Gregor Höroldt for Meissen Porcelain Manufactory (German, 1696 – 1775), Meissen Augustus Rex Vase, c. 1728, porcelain, various heights, Gift of Miss Constance I. and Mr. Ralph H. Wark, AG.1973.25.1 -5.  Photograph courtesy of Brian Shrum.

1. Herman Herzog (German/American, 1832 – 1932), Figure in a Landscape, c. 1910, oil on canvas, 15 13/16 x 19 7/8 in., Gift of Mr. and Mrs. C. Herman Terry, AG.1987.11.1.

2. René-Théodore Berthon (French, 1776 – 1859), Portrait of Princess Pauline Borghèse and the Baroness de Mathiesse, c. 1810, oil on canvas, 83 7/8 x 69 ½ in., Museum purchase with Council funds, AP.2002.2.1.

3. Peter Thijs (Flemish, 1624 –1677) and Pieter Boel (Flemish, 1622 – 1674), Huntsman with His Dogs and Game, c.1650, oil on canvas, 72 x 103 ½ in., Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, AG.1961.9.1.

4. Winslow Homer (American, 1836 – 1910), The White Rowboat, St. Johns River, 1890, watercolor on paper, 14 x 20 in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.154.1.

1.William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825 – 1905), Return from the Harvest, 1878, oil on canvas, 95 x 67 in., Purchased with Membership Contributions, AP.1964.2.1.

Reproduction of original frame by Diego Salazar Antique Frames, New York, given in honor of Jack Lee Scott by Jane McRae Scott, 2003.

2. William Glackens (American, 1870 – 1938), The Lake, c. 1913-18, oil on canvas, 25 1/8 x 30 in., Museum purchase with Council funds, AP.1987.2.1.

3. Agnolo Gaddi (Italian, 1350 – 1396), Madonna of Humility with Angels, c. 1390, tempera on panel, frame: 43 ½ x 24 ¼ in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.130.1.

4. Martin Johnson Heade (American, 1819 – 1904), Orchid with an Amethyst Hummingbird, c.1875 – 90, oil on canvas, 18 1/16 x 10 1/8 in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.112.1.

Mar. 16, 2011 Answers!

#1: Jan ten Compe (Dutch, 1713 – 1761), View of Nieuwmarkt, Amsterdam, 1752, oil on panel, 21 3/8 x 29 ½ in., oil on panel, Museum purchase with Membership Contributions, AP.1963.6.1.

#2: Joseph Jeffers Dodge (American, 1917 – 1997), Dancing Pears II, 1992, oil on panel, 16 x 20 in., Gift of Mr. Joseph Jeffers Dodge, AG.1996.2.59.

#3: Edmund Darch Lewis (American, 1835 – 1910), Mount Washington, New Hampshire, 1865, oil on canvas, 51 7/8 x 90 ½ in., Morton R. Hirschberg Memorial Fund Purchase, AP.1990.17.1.

#4:Frederick Carl Frieseke (American, 1874 – 1939), Before Her Appearance, 1913, oil on canvas, 61 1/8 x 61 1/8 in., Museum purchase with Council funds, AP.1985.2.1.

Mar. 2, 2011 Answers!

#1: John Steuart Curry (American, 1897 – 1946), Parade to War, Allegory, 1938, oil on canvas, 47 13/16 x 63 13/16 in., Gift of Barnett Banks, Inc., AG.1991.4.1.

#2: William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825 – 1905), Day Dreams, 1904, oil on canvas, 45 3/8 x 32 in., Gift of Paul Reinhold in memory of Klare Neely Reinhold, AG.1986.7.1.

#3: Gustave Leonard de Jonghe (Belgian, 1829 – 1893), (L’admiratrice du Japon), The Japanese Fan, c. 1865, oil on canvas, 44 ¼ x 34 1/16 in., Gift of the Francis & Miranda Childress Foundation, AG.1988.3.1.

#4: Edgar Degas (French, 1834 – 1917), Scene with Ballerinas, 1890 – 95, charcoal and pastel on paper, 15 x 20 ½ in., Bequest of Ruth P. Phillips, AG.2005.5.1.

After we removed all the paintings and furniture, then all the Meissen, then all the cases, we started tearing down the fabric. Underneath the fabric was cotton batting stapled to the wall, so then we had to remove the batting and yes, remove all the staples with pliers.

How many staples do you think we removed from the walls in the Lovett? Not only was the batting stapled along each vertical seam, it was also stapled along the top edge of the wall along the ceiling AND the bottom edge of the wall along the marble. I will only say it is a miracle any of us can actually use our hands today, and that poor Mark is still down there pulling….

The person with the guess closest to the actual number of staples will win a special prize, which will be announced next week!  Stay tuned for more updates on the Lovett Gallery rennvoation.

Feb. 16, 2011 Answers!

#1: Mary Cassatt (American, 1844 – 1926), Simone in a Large Plumed Hat, c. 1903, pastel counterproof on paper, 26 x 21 in., Purchased with funds provided by the Mae W. Schultz Acquisition Endowment and the Cummer Council, AP.1992.8.1.

#2: Eugène Louis Charvot (French, 1847-1924), View of Rue El – Alfahouine, 1889, oil on canvas, 47 ¼ x 39 7/8 in., Given by Yvonne Charvot Barnett in memory of her father Eugène Louis Charvot, AG.1999.5.3.

#3: Edmund William Greacen (American, 1877 – 1949), Brooklyn Bridge, East River, 1916, oil on canvas, 37 x 37 ½ in., Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Rene Faure (Daughter of Edmond Greacen, Nan Greacen Faure), AG.1972.2.1.

#4: Frederic Remington (American, 1861 – 1909), The Bronco Buster, c.1900-1909, bronze, 24 1/8 in., Morton R. Hirschberg Memorial Fund Purchase, AP.1982.2.1.

Feb. 2, 2011 Answers!

#1: Gioacchino Assereto (Italian, 1600 – 1649), The Lamentation (The Pieta), c. 1640, oil on canvas, 50 x 62 in., Museum purchase with Council funds, AP.1988.1.1.

#2: Paulus Bor (Dutch, 1601 – 1669), Allegory of Avarice (The Miserly Woman), 17^th century, oil on canvas, 48 x 39 3/8 in., Bequest of Ninah M. H. Cummer, C.0.128.1.

#3: Art Connections Interactive Center, 2010.  Photograph courtesy of Ingrid Damiani

#4: Master of the Stötteritz Altar (German, active late 15^th century), Mother of Sorrows, c. 1480, oil on panel, 8 ¾ x 6 ½ in., Gift of Mrs. Clifford G. Schultz in memory of Mr. Clifford G. Schultz, AG.1984.1.1.

How well do you know The Cummer?  If you think you can identify these items—currently on display throughout the Museum as 50 Favorites.  Write your guesses in the comment section below and we will give the answers in two weeks, along with the next challenge.  One winner will receive a complimentary one-day pass to the Museum.  Good luck!