About Anthony D'Arco
Beauty and the American Country House Movement: Reynolda Museum & Historic House in North Carolina
Reynolda House Library, Winston- Salem
There is simply nothing more charming, intimate, and inviting than viewing great art in the setting of a private home or country house. It is one of the experiences our collectors and artists treasure most at each of our Collectors for Connoisseurship Arts Weekends that have been held in Atlanta, Denver, New York City, Savannah, and the Hamptons. This Fall, we plan to travel to the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York and will visit Kykuit, the remarkable Rockefeller country estate in Pocantico Hills.
In anticipation of future arts weekends, we recently traveled to North Carolina and visited the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem. The 1917 134-acre estate includes an historic home, man-made lake, golf course, formal gardens, forest, meadows, wetlands, and bucolic walking trails (open year-round) that are enjoyed by not only tourists but the local community.
The Reynolds estate, known as Reynolda was built by Richard Joshua Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (a pioneer in the advertising and manufacture of tobacco blends, including Camel cigarettes) and his wife Katherine Smith, an astute businesswoman who eventually purchased in her own name more than 1,000 acres as part of the estate. Katherine envisioned and supervised the building of a self-sufficient estate that included and boasted the most modern innovations in the running of the “model farm” described below.
Their daughter Mary and her husband Charles H Babcock, Sr. would eventually give 605 acres of the estate to Wake Forest University, including Reynolda Gardens and Reynolda Village. In 1964, Babcock founded a nonprofit (“Reynolda House, Inc.”) to provide public educational arts programming on the estate and in 2003, work was commenced on the Babcock Wing that now contains 31,619 square feet of museum space.
The centerpiece of the estate was the country house above which originally contained nine paintings of historic American art that became the origin of a broad sweeping collection of three hundred works from 1755 to present.
Before turning to the art collection, it is important to appreciate the historical architectural context of Reynolda. In the late 19th century, as American wealth was burgeoning and cities were experiencing explosive growth, successful urbanites in search of clean air and a more pleasant lifestyle started building “country houses” outside the cities to which they could commute for the weekend. The desire for “country living” by the wealthy produced an architectural “American Country House movement” that would flourish until the Great Depression.
Drawing upon the centuries-old British models where the country house was the center of social life for the elites, these country houses were built on large tracts of land which could be used for recreational pursuits such as riding and hunting. Although the American country house had its own unique style, the Gilded Age tycoons who had traveled on the continent sought to elevate their standing in the New World by referencing a variety of Old-World European styles found in England, France, Italy and Spain. These “houses” and “cottages” proclaimed wealth and status and were anything but intimate homes. Lavish and extensive country estates such as those built by the Vanderbilt family in Newport (“Marble House” and “The Breakers” Cottages) and Asheville (“The Biltmore”) announced that the Americans had arrived!
Notably, regardless of size or opulence, a central feature of these country houses were their gardens. “No feature of the American country house movement was as expressive of the desire for beauty in a rural setting as were its gardens and landscape architecture.” Traces, Spring 2003 at 36.
Indeed, to provide the residents and guests immediate access to the views and gardens, architectural features such as terraces, conservatories, gazebos and loggias became prevalent. Id. One of the greatest garden estates in this era was built by the Du Pont family in the Brandywine Valley which we visited several years ago on a Denver Art Museum tour. The stunning Longwood Gardens located on over one thousand acres with twenty outdoor gardens and a massive conservatory shown here are simply unrivaled.
Another typical feature of these country estates included farming complexes, known as “farm models” or “farm groups” that produced significant employment and became the hub of activity for local communities. For example, in 1901, the “Hyde Park Farms” shown here were built in NY by Frederick Vanderbilt who commissioned architect Alfred Hopkins and farm expert Edward Burnett to build a farm group that included many buildings needed for farming operations. Significantly, to carry on the bucolic and appealing sensibilities of the main house, much architectural attention was paid to these support buildings by architects such as Hopkins who added aesthetic design features that made them look like picturesque villages. Although these “gentleman farms” were not built to make money, the capitalists who built them were interested in the innovation of new agricultural methods and efficiencies as well as best practices in farm management. Hyde Park Farms, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, National Park Service.
The Reynolda estate reflected this national country house movement with its country house and model farm. The gem of the elegant 34,000 square foot historic home is the collection of American art that spans 250 years from the 18th-20th centuries, including works by Frederic Edwin Church, John Singer Sargent, Martin Johnson Heade, William Michael Harnett, Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alexander Calder, Lee Krasner, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol.
The genesis of the collection included works from the Hudson River school which romanticized the vast, unexplored landscape of the American continent and elevated the genre of landscape to religious expression. The school is well represented with works by Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Edwin Church, Thomas Cole, Jasper Francis Cropsey and more.
From the Hudson River Valley in NY to the West and beyond, these artists painted large-scale landscapes that subtly invited viewers to consider often competing religious and scientific philosophies such as “manifest destiny” and Darwinism. As explained by the Reynolda, the stunning and sublime luminist painting by Frederic Church shown here (“The Andes of Ecuador”) attempts to reconcile such tension. The apparent reference to the divine presence in nature demonstrated by the predominance of sky and light along with the small praying figures makes a religious statement while incorporating intricately detailed botanical and biological elements associated with Darwin. See Reynolda Department of American Art Description.
Befitting such an elegant mansion, portraits by Gilbert Stuart and John Singer Sargent, two of America’s foremost 18-19th century portrait painters grace the walls of several of the main floor rooms which are also filled with many decorative arts objects that comprise the extensive collection of 6,000 historic objects.
Continuing the journey to the upstairs reached by the fabulous grand staircase shown above, we encounter the diverse modern and contemporary art at Reynolda. A veritable who’s who collection of works of 20th-21st century American artists resides there in room after room. On view include Grant Wood, Marsden Hartley, Georgia O’Keeffe, Stuart Davis, Milton Avery, Alexander Calder, Alice Neel, and Lee Krasner. Not on view although the collection is rotated frequently are works by Arthur Dove, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Jim Dine, Sam Francis, and Philip Pearlstein.
Striking and close to home is the recent work in 2022 by Stephen Towns entitled “Flora and Lillie” which is a painting of two of the residents of Five Row, the segregated village built for employees and families living on Reynolda from 1916 to 1960. Based on a photograph and his research during a residency about Black labor in the South, Towns pays tribute to the workers who were so critical to the success of the model farm and estate at Reynolda and throughout the region. Surrounded by Southern flora, an intentional reference by the artist to “Flora,” the captivating and charming figures convey the beauty, strength, and grace of those who labored there.
Be sure to visit the display in the museum building connected to the historic house that explores the interesting history of the innovations and practices at Reynolda. And do make time to stroll the lovely park-like grounds and gardens.
For further information about the American Country House movement and the efforts to preserve important country houses, visit the American Country House Foundation.
Shannon Robinson is the curator and chairperson of the biennial exhibition Windows to the Divine and the annual symposia by Collectors for Connoisseurship (C4C). Past C4C events
David Gray
David Gray
David’s signature style reveals a personal and contemporary expression of beauty and order which pays homage to the Classical Tradition in its craftsmanship. Collectors of David’s work often relate that his painting evokes a sense of peace, stillness, or a contemplative mood. His award-winning works have been covered by major art publications including Southwest Art, Art of the West, and American Art Collector. David also teaches several workshops per year in portraiture and still life painting throughout the United States and abroad. (See David’s workshop schedule HERE.)
Fans of David’s work will notice an exploration in style beginning in late 2017. This new style, while retaining the mastery of draftsmanship characteristic of earlier work, finds a new freedom of brushwork and color application. This new dialect of painting is influenced in part by French Impressionism of the late 19th century, particularly the work of Monet. Forms are often suggested rather than completely rendered, though a solidly sculpted structure is still evident. David’s former work communicated a stirring beauty and meditative stillness. His current painting will push that expression into a new strength of emotion through bold brushwork, inventiveness, and a new found creative conviction. Currently, collectors have the opportunity to enjoy both directions of David’s multifaceted talents.
“Whether he is painting still lifes or figures, Gray brings a deep knowledge of and respect for the masters that translates into an elegant minimalism on canvas or panel. His tonalist portraits usually focus solely on the head and shoulders, while his still lifes feature timeless objects such as copper pots and china teacups surrounded by generous doses of negative space.”
–Bonnie Gangelhoff, Southwest Art Magazine
“I’m not simply a “Realist”. I find in my best work, my subjects seem to hover somewhere between the visible natural realm and some place divine…”
–David Gray
Education and Instructors
Ten Day Figure Painting Workshop, Douglas Flynt, The Grand Central Academy of Art, New York, NY
Hans Nordlund, Tacoma Academy of Fine Art, Tacoma, WA
Terry Furchgott, Gage Academy of Art, Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Fine Art, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
Juried and Commercial Exhibitions (from 2005 and onward)
2018 107th Annual California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Outside Perspectives, Group Show, Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, OR
2017 Legacy, Group Show, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2017 27th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2017 Oil Painters of America 26th National Juried Exhibition, Eisele Gallery of Art, Cincinnati, OH
2016 Femina Mystica — Three Person Show, Krab Jab Studio, Seattle, WA
2016 One Man Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe NM
2015 Winter Group Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2015 Renaissance of Realism, Group Show, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2015 25th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2015 Two-Person Show, Marilyn Yates and David Gray, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2015 The Magic of Realism Group Exhibition, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2014 24th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2014 Oil Painters of America 23rd National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2014 Windows to the Divine Invitational, Arthaus, Denver, CO
2014 “American Still Life” Group Exhibition, R.W. Norton Gallery, Shreveport, LA
2014 Salmagundi Club, Members Exhibit, New York, NY
2013 One Man Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2013 Annual Group Realism Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2012 1st Annual Figurative Group Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2012 Contemporary Invitational Still Life Exhibit, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg, SC
2012 “America the Beautiful” Group Show, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2012 “Artists for the New Century” Invitational, The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2011 Scottsdale Fine Art Annual Holiday Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2011 American Art Invitational, Small Works, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2011 Windows to the Divine Invitational, The MADDEN Museum of Art, Greenwood Village, CO
2011 21st Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2011 Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
2011 “Impressions of Fall” Group Show, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2011 Oil Painters of America 20th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Devin Galleries, Coeur d’Alene, ID
2011 “Impressions of Spring” Group Show, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2010 3rd Biennial American Art Invitational, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2010 “Champions of Realism” Group Show, Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2010 20th Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2010 “Celebrating Realism” Invitational, Museo Gallery, Langley, WA
2010 “Through the Painter’s Eye” Group Realism Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2009 Annual Small Works Invitational and Sale, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 19th Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2009 Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2009 Cheri Christensen, Jill Soukup, and David Gray, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown, MA
2009 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 “Through the Painter’s Eye” Work by Jacqueline Kamin and David Gray, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Annual Holiday Miniature Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Devin Galleries, Coeur d’Alene, ID
2008 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT
2007 “Small Wonders” Miniature Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2007 “Group of Six” Group Show, Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA
2007 “The Figure” Group Show, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown, MA
2007 Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2006 Annual Invitational Miniature Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2005 New Works by Douglas Fryer and David Gray, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Awards
2017 Bronze Medal, Oil Painters of America 26th National Juried Exhibition, Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2016 John August Dietrich Memorial Figurative Award of Excellence, 25th Annual Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2014 Finalist, 2013/2014 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2012 “Chairman’s Choice Award”, 2011/2012 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2011 Silver Medal, OPA Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2010 “Top 100 Finalist”, 2009/2010 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2009 “Finalist”, International Artist Magazine Challenge No. 52 – Favorite Subjects
2009 Multiple “Finalist” entries in both the Still Life and Figure categories, The Artist’s Magazine 26th Annual Art Competition
2009 “Hunter Editions Award of Excellence” Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 “Chairman’s Choice Award”, 2008/2009 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2008 “Award of Excellence – Best Associate Member”, Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition, Devin Galleries, Coeur d’Alene, ID
2007 “Top 100 Finalist”, 2007 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2007 “Finalist, Portrait and Figure Category”, The Artist’s Magazine 24th Annual Art Competition
2007 “Jury’s Top 50” Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2003 “Best of Show” Oil Painters of America West/Southwest/Mountain Region Juried Exhibition, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
Bibliography
2016 New Realism 2016, Contemporary Takes on the Figure
2016 April, The Artist’s Magazine, Cover and feature article
2015 Fine Art Tips with Lori McNee: Painting Techniques and Professional Advice, North Light Books
2013 Davd Gray: Classical Realist, Interview, Art Book Guy
2012/13 December/January, “Strokes of Realism”, Gulf Connoissuer
2011 Spring, Featured Alumnus, Scene Magazine (a quarterly publication of Pacific Lutheran University)
2011 March, “Tone Poems”, Southwest Art
2009 Sept/Oct, “The Beauty of the Form”, Art of the West
2009 Aug/Sept, Prize Winners for Challenge No. 52 – Favorite Subjects, International Artist
2009 May, Oil Painters of America 2009 National Juried Exhibition, Show Preview, American Art Collector
2009 February, “Through the Painter’s Eye”, Show Preview, American Art Collector
2005 Winter, Featured Artist, Scene Magazine (a quarterly publication of Pacific Lutheran University)
2003 November, Artist to Watch, Southwest Art
CASEY CHILDS
BORN: 1974 – Powell, WY
EDUCATION:
Apprenticeship – William Whitaker, Provo, UT -Brigham Young University – B.A., Provo, UT -Northwest College – A.A., Powell, WY
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2018 -27th National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Steamboat Springs, CO, May-Jun 2018 -Visiting Artist, Brigham Young University, February 2018 2017 -Relics, Solo Exhibition, Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA, October 2017 -26th National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Cincinatti, OH, May-Jun 2017 -Finalist Showcase, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Conference, Atlanta, GA, April 2017 2016 -25th National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Dallas, TX, May-Jun 2016 -Finalist Showcase, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Conference, Washington, DC, April 2016 2015 -Observations, Solo Exhibit, Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA, Sept-Oct 2015 -The Heaven Were Opened (Permanent Exhibit), LDS Church History Museum, Sept 2015 -Finalist Showcase, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Conference, Atlanta, GA, April 2015 -91st Annual Spring Salon, Springville MOA, May-Jun 2015 2014 -Face Off: Portraits by Casey Childs, Solo Exhibit, Springville MOA, Springville UT, Jun 2014-Jan 2015 -90th Annual Spring Salon, Springville MOA, May-Jun 2014 2012 -88th Annual Spring Salon, Springville MOA, May-Jun 2012 -Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio TX, Apr-May 2012 -Influential Figures, Anderson Gallery, Provo UT, Apr-May 2012 -9th International Art Exhibition, LDS Church History Museum, Mar-Oct 2012 -Portraiture, Solo Exhibit, Orindorff Building, Northwest College, Powell WY, Feb-Mar 2012 -10 Artists, 10 Views, Springville Moa, Springville, UT Jan 2012 2011 -Finalist Showcase, Portrait Society of America International Conference, Atlanta, GA, April-May 2011 -26th Annual Religious and Spiritual Art of Utah, Springville, UT Oct-Dec 2011 -87th annual Spring Salon, Springville MOA, Apr-May 2011
-Recent + Works, Solo Exhibit, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Feb 2011 2010 -25th Annual Religious and Spiritual Art of Utah, Springville, UT Oct-Dec 2010 -Illumination, Solo Exhibit, Communal Restaurant, Aug-Oct 2010 -Summer Showcase, Covey Center, Aug 2010 -86th annual Spring Salon, Springville Moa, Apr-May 2010 2009 -8th International Art Exhibition, LDS Church History Museum, Mar-Oct 2009 -24th Annual Religious and Spiritual Art of Utah, Springville Moa, Oct-Dec 2009 2007 -83rd annual Spring Salon, Springville Moa, May 2007 2006 -82nd Annual Spring Salon, Springville Moa, May 2006 -Freedom Festival Art Exhibition, Provo City Council, July 2006 2003 -79th Annual Spring Salon, Springville Moa, May 2003
HONORS
-Gold Medal, OPA 27th National Juried Exhibition, 2018 -Second Place, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, 2018 -First Place, Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, Outside the Box Category, 2018 -Fifth Place, Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, Commissioned Portrait Category, 2018 -MEAM Purchase Award, Art Renewal Center 13th International Salon, 2018 -Third Place, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, 2017 -Board of Director’s Award of Excellence, OPA 26th National Juried Exhibition, 2017 -Art Renewal Center Realism Award of Excellence, OPA 25th National Juried Exhibition, 2016 -Second Place, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, 2016 -First Place Drawing, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition, 2015 -Third Place, Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, Self Portrait Category, 2013 -Merit Award, 88th Spring Salon, Springville, UT, 2012 -Merit Award, 9th International LDS Art Exhibition, Salt Lake City, UT 2012 -Charles and Ruth Whiting Award, 26th Annual Religious and Spiritual Art of Utah, Springville, UT 2011 -First Honors, Portrait Society of America International Competition, 2011 -Fourth Place, Portrait Society of America Member Competition, Outside the Box, 2011 -Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America International Exhibition 2010 -Honorable Mention, Commissioned Portrait, PSA Member Competition, 2010 -Honorable Mention, Non-Commissioned Portrait, PSA Member Competition, 2010 -Merit Award, 86th Spring Salon, Springville, UT, 2010 -First Place, Lehi Arts Competition, Lehi, UT, 2008
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
-“The Human Form”, Southwest Art Magazine, December 2018 -“Casey Childs: One Artist’s Journey to Obtain Accuracy in a Multiple Figure Historical Narrative Painting”, International Artists Magazine, Oct/Nov 2015 -“Observations”, American Art Collector, September 2015 -“17th Annual International Portrait Competition Showcase, International Artists Magazine, Aug/Sept 2015 -“Unfurl”, American Art Collector, August 2015 -“Artists to Watch”, Southwest Art Magazine, June 2015 -Fibonacci Digest (cover), Fall/Winter 2014 -Let’s Talk Art! 10th Edition, Sept/Oct/Nov 2013 -Ensign (LDS Magazine), June 2013 -“Artist Creates Diptych Depicting Death of Joseph Smith”, Daily Herald, April 4, 2013 -Blue Canvas Magazine (Issue 12) – May 2012 -“Artist Casey Childs Paints Lessons in History”, Lovell Chronicle, Mar 29, 2012 -“Casey Childs, Works by Artist with Lovell and Powell Connections”, Powell Tribune, Mar 13, 2012 -Poets/Artists Magazine (Collaboration Issue) – Jan 2012 -American Art Collector Magazine – August 2011 -Poets/Artists Magazine (Summer Extravaganza Issue) – July 2011 -International Artist Magazine – June/July 2011 -International Artist Magazine – August/September 2010 -A Critical Catalogue with selections from the 86th Annual Spring Salon of Contemporary Utah Art – July 2010 -The Provo Orem Word (cover) – June 2010
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