Bellarmine Museum, home to Fairfield’s very own art galleries, features elaborate work from a plethora of artists. Lighting up the walls in Bellarmine Museum since the beginning of the spring semester is the “Dawn to Dusk: Tonalism in Connecticut” exhibit. With the ignition of Fairfield graduates Dr. Robert Schnurr and Mrs. Rosellen (Walsh) Schnurr’s vision, Mary Ann Hollihan assembled an exhibit composed of 60 works of art from the late 19th century into the 20th century.
Tonalism refers to unique landscapes and seascapes. It is known as a progressive art movement that connects emotions and nature. A popular technique in the Tonalism approach to art is to paint by memory. The origins of this art form in its early days are rooted out of New York and Boston. The artists of the Hudson River School, such as Alexander Wyant, Homer Dodge Martin, John Francis Murphy and George Inness later were the leading influence on the emergence of Tonalism. These artists are part of the 24 landscape painters featured in Bellarmine’s galleries.
Despite the paintings melancholy nature, tonalist paintings place an emphasis on the charm of America and the optimistic outlooks of the opportunities in a growing nation. An underlying theme of Manifest Destiny also has a presence within these paintings. Tonalism signaled for a new era after the psychological effects of the Civil War along with the repercussions of Industrialization.
The exhibit gets its name from the scenes of nature featured in these paintings. Although tonalist pieces typically do not feature human beings, there are some exceptions. However, the ones featured in the galleries simply picture landscapes and seascapes. The pieces largely focus on the seasons of autumn and winter and obviously the differences between dawn and dusk.
The art encapsulates a modernist essence that encourages viewers to look for the deeper meaning of a piece. Each piece is titled by a number one through sixty in the collection. The ambiguity of the painting allows art appreciators to interpret the piece how they would like to. The muted color palette ties into the nostalgic feel.
Looking around the exhibit, I found myself attracted to pieces featuring beach imagery. Some pieces that stood out to me specifically were 9, 22, 28, 29, 41 and 40.
If you need to de-stress from work, are on a walk near Bellarmine hill, or are looking for something different to do with your friends on campus, check out the “Dawn to Dusk” exhibit open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. until April 12!