Cheekwood is excited to announce a delightful new exhibition opening in February in its renowned Museum of Art. Affectionately Yours: American Miniature Portraits and the Stories They Tell will open on Valentine’s Day, and will remain at the museum until August 25 of this year.

The exhibition focuses on the Raymond and Linda White collection of American miniature portraits, featuring more than 110 individual pieces and their stories, handed down through generations. Most of the paintings were commissioned as gifts from one person to another, commemorating personal ties, recognizing family relationships and marking personal milestones.

“February is the perfect time to celebrate art’s place in meaningful relationships,” said Jochen Wierich, Curator of Art at Cheekwood. “Each of these paintings is a true work of art, as well as an intimate glimpse into a personal connection that once held great meaning. We’re excited to share the stories, emotions and mysteries of these paintings with our guests and members.”

The pieces in the exhibition range in date from the 18th to the early 20th Centuries, commemorating men, women and children. While most of these types of portraits were painted primarily by men, many women artists made names for themselves as portraitists, finding success in a male-dominated field.

Unlike many other types of artwork at the time, these miniature portraits were not simply a luxury of the wealthy; families from a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds honored the living and the dead with miniature portrait commissions. Just as we might frame a snapshot of a friend today, these portraits were often tender tokens of affection between lovers, friends and family members. As an exhibition, the collection invites the viewer to become a part of each relationship represented by imagining the lives it honored.

Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate. Our mission is to preserve Cheekwood as an historical landmark where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit.  Cheekwood is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive in Nashville, 8 miles southwest of downtown Nashville. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, seniors $10 and children 3-17 are $5.  Parking is $3 per car. Admission during Bruce Munro Nights will be $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $8 for children 3-17, and $5 for Cheekwood members.  For further information call 615-356-8000 or visit www.cheekwood.org.