The Vickers Family Art Collection Arrives at the Harn Museum
Itās moving day and the massive collection of Florida art has arrived at the Harn Museum of Art.Ā Thanks to an extraordinary donation from Sam and Robbie Vickers, their once-private collection has found its public āforever homeā at the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida. Over a few days, I was able to document the behind the scenes process as Harn staff excitedly welcomed a truckload of more than 1,200 drawings, oil paintings, and watercolors ā the largest single art collection ever gifted to the university.
The inaugural exhibition, A Florida Legacy: Gift of Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers, opens Feb. 26 and runs through Aug. 1, 2021.Ā Art lovers will be able to marvel up close at Robert J. Curtisās iconic 1838 portrait of Seminole leader Osceola; Winslow Homerās action-filled Foul Hooked Black Bass; John Singer Sargentās masterful Palm Thicket; Martin Johnson Headeās rare Oleanders; Ralston Crawfordās soaring Overseas Highway #2; and Jane Petersonās vibrant gouache, Toucans, Parrot Jungle ā to name just a few of the delights on view.