The wonderful idea of a one- or two-work special exhibition continues to spread. We’ve seen it at the Prado (Velazquez and Sargent), at the Metropolitan Museum (Michelangelo), the Nevada Art Museum in Reno (Raphael and then the Beffi triptych altarpiece) and other museums.
Now the Portland Art Museum, which originated the showing of Raphael’s La Velata that went to Reno and then to Milwaukee, has landed another big loan: It announced this week that it will borrow Thomas Moran’s massive Shoshone Falls on the Snake River from the the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa.
Says the press release:
Shoshone Falls, measuring more than 12 feet in length, depicts a breathtaking view of one of nature’s greatest spectacles in North America. Known as the “Niagara of the West,” Shoshone Falls is the largest waterfall along the Snake River, the natural geographic divide between Oregon and Idaho.
And here it is in its glory:
Being so big, and central to the Gilcrease Collection, Shoshone Falls doesn’t travel much — I suspect this will be the first view of it for most visitors to the Portland museum.
The loan must still be approved by the Gilcrease’s board, but that’s considered to be in the bag; the museum owns 1,366 works by Moran, though this is probably the best. It will go on view in Portland on Oct. 23 and run through Jan. 16.
Like me, Brian Ferriso, the Portland museum’s executive director, is a fan of these small shows not only because they are relatively inexpensive but more important because they draw people in to look, really look.
The museum says it will plan special programming about Moran and the painting, and that it won’t charge extra to see the work (as it did for La Velata). But it will issue some timed tickets. The Portland Oregonian has a very nice article about the loan, with good background about Moran etc., here.
Thank you, Gilcrease officials.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Gilcrease Museum