The Cooley Gallery is pleased to announce its newest exhibition and sale, Close to Home: The New England Landscapes of Aaron Draper Shattuck (1832-1928). An opening reception will be held on June 3rd, 2010 from 5-8pm. The exhibition will run through July 17th, 2010.

Intimate, precisely rendered pastoral landscapes celebrating New England are the hallmark of Aaron Draper Shattuck’s work. The paintings in this exhibition are newly discovered and represent a range of subject matter, including his earliest known dated painting. Considered a highly successful Hudson River School painter, Shattuck exhibited his work in the company of American masters like Samuel Colman, John Kensett, and Sanford Gifford.

Shattuck was one of the few American artists of any generation who felt no professional obligation to study in Europe. Born in New Hampshire, he studied in Boston and New York City, and spent his summers sketching and gathering inspiration within the borders of New England and New York. His painting is noted for celebrating the pastoral landscapes of his environs. Shattuck’s fidelity to nature and sensitivity to its conditions and colors earned him praise from the first time he exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1855. He was elected a full member six years later.

The discovery of these paintings was a thrill for owner Jeffrey Cooley. “One of the reasons I got involved in the art business was my love of 19th century painting and their spiritual and factual evocation of the New England landscape. These paintings, long held in the family’s hands, capture the essence of the landscape Shattuck loved.”

Shattuck bought a farm in Granby, Connecticut where he found inspiration until his failing eyesight prevented him from expressing any more in paint. His last years were spent making violins. He was described as affable, with an inventor’s mind and held several patents including a ventilation system for a tobacco barn and the oft seen metal stretcher keys (the pieces on the back of a canvas that hold the corners in place) on many of his colleagues’ works.

Close to Home: The New England Landscapes of Aaron Draper Shattuck is a rare opportunity to see intimate and fine selection from the 19th century by this celebrated Connecticut artist. The exhibition will open on June 3rd, 2010 with an evening reception from 5-8pm and run through July 17th, 2010.

[Images at 300dpi or greater available upon request].

Founded in 1981 and located in the heart of historic Old Lyme, the Cooley Gallery specializes in fine American paintings from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, including the Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and select contemporary artists.

Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Please call (860) 434-8807 or visit www.cooleygallery.com for additional information. The Cooley Gallery is located at 25 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371.