Appleton Museum of Art reinstalls 19th century European galleries

Detail of “Needlework of a Cavalier and Lady,” c. 1670, Silk, chenille, silver purl, embroidery on satin. Gift of William and Myra Mathers. [Courtesy of College of Central Florida]

Jean Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827-1875), “Le Rieur Napolitain (The Neapolitan Laughter),” late 19th c., marble. Gift of the Estate of Mary Ann Cofrin. [Courtesy of College of Central Florida]

In January, the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, refreshed 4,000 square feet of its European art galleries, located on the second floor. With major recent acquisitions and a comprehensive permanent-collection reinstallation plan underway, visitors will enjoy a cross-section of the Appleton’s holdings and over 20% more works on display. 

Visitors will find many works on view that have never been exhibited or have not been exhibited in quite some time. A recent world-class addition is “The Dance of Love” by Gustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger (1824-1888), a 19th-century French oil painting that complements academic figurative works by William Adolphe-Bouguereau and Elizabeth Jane Gardner. Boulanger’s large scale and exceptionally rare painting is the preparatory version that served as the model for a larger painting that still exists in the world-famous Paris Opera House in France. 

In foreground, Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-1887), “La Danse (The Dance),” 19th c., bronze. Gift of Arthur I. Appleton. In background, “La Danse Amoureuse (The Dance of Love),” by Gustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger (French, 1824-1888). [Courtesy of College of Central Florida]

For those familiar with the space, visitor-favorites remain on view, such as “The Young Shepherdess” and “The Knitter” by William Adolphe Bouguereau and “The Watering Trough” by John Sargent Noble. 

In addition to two-dimensional works, visitors can enjoy a large selection of sculpture and decorative works that are rarely on display, including a 17th-century English embroidery panel, 18th-century French world maps and a marble portrait bust by the noted 19th-century French sculptor Jean Baptiste Carpeaux. 

“This completes the first phase of a two-part refresh in the second-floor European galleries,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton Museum director. “We look forward to adding more works to the European galleries in the coming month.” 

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.