1977 Lewes Art Show

LEWES 1977 EVENT

LEWES HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“LOOKING AT LEWES; THE ARTIST'S EYE”

An exhibition of 69 entries of local art between July 4 to the 17^th , located in Vessel's Store

106 Second Street, Lewes, article carried in Wilmington Morning News, Wednesday , July 6, 1977, basically list a large collection of paintings, both modern and historic, from around Lewes.

There are facinating pictures from the 'day of sail' , taking a romantic view of sailing ships

and days of swashbuckling sailors. The oldest picture, dated 1807, is “ Lighthouse on the

Breakwater” painted by artist Thomas Birch, who born in England, came to America 1793 at the

age of 14 years. He also painted several scenes of the War of 1812 and his “Mouth of the Delaware”

hangs in the White House. A painting “ Quarantine Station”, a view by an unknown artist indicates

the importance of Lewes as a seaport. Also the painting “ Lighthouse at Lewestown” helps with the

history of the port by artist Augustus Koellner, a German born lad, who was age 10 when he painted

this picture.

The steam age is featured with a painting of “Pilot Boat Philadelphia”, signed Edward Todd.

This ship, built in 1896, saw service in the Spanish American War. The 'Philadelphia II', is shown in a 1929 painting by W. H. Pettibone. Finally, a 1975 picture, “Lewes Canal and Old Pilot Boat”

painted by Theodora Kane, who is a summer teacher with Rehoboth Art League.

Howard Pyle of Chadds Ford, Is represented by his painting “ Shad Fishing on the Lower

Delaware” that appeared 1881 in Harpers Magazine.

WWII is recalled by a 1942 painting by Howard Schroeder. More of his art is some of the

“best of the show'” paintings. They are “Lewes in Winter” and “Hershells Place” the drawing

of a boats interior.

A good landscape sweep is provided by Lydia Bell Lynch in “Lewes Canal Scene”.

Old timer Jack Lewis with his “Delaware Scene” paintings , especially “Rickers & Ramsey”,

is here.

A touch of historic whimsy is found in “Lewes Still Slightly Dutch” a 1917 painting by 73

year old Orville Peets shows Captain deVries looking over a modern power boat anchored

in Lewes Breakwater.

Abstract: September 10, 2017, Harrison H for Facebook's Lewes to Ocean City site.