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Biggs Museum names Frank E. Schoonover Gallery of American Illustration

January 29, 2014

The Biggs Museum of American Art, in partnership with the Schoonover Fund, announces the completion of a fundraising drive to name the new Frank E. Schoonover Gallery of American Illustration at the Biggs Museum.

The Schoonover Fund was established in 1999 to support research for the Frank E. Schoonover Catalogue Raisonné, published in 2009. Schoonover (1877-1972) is recognized as one of America's foremost illustrators. The Biggs Museum possesses one of the largest public collections of the artist's works, as well as examples of other American illustrators' works. Realizing the importance of this collection, the Biggs Museum presented the Schoonover Fund with a unique opportunity to endow Schoonover's name with the museum's permanent collection.

The fund board agreed to pledge $12,500 for a matching grant challenge, dollar for dollar, that generated more than $25,000, thus establishing the permanent Frank E. Schoonover Gallery of American Illustration. It will be located on the third floor of the recently renovated museum. The gallery walls are painted cadium red, a tribute to Schoonover's use of the color in many of his paintings.

"The board of the fund extends many thanks to those who have given to make this possible," said John Schoonover, grandson of the illustrator, who orchestrated the matching grant on behalf of the Schoonover Fund. "Visitors to the Biggs Museum and Frank E. Schoonover Gallery of American Illustration will enjoy significant Schoonover works and memorabilia for years to come."

The Schoonover gallery exhibits will change on a regular basis, so revisits are encouraged. Currently, the Biggs Museum of American Art houses more than 40 of Frank E. Schoonover's works, including such renowned paintings as "Morgan's Point was at His Throat," 1935; "Masked Indian Dancer," 1935; and "Vidette in Pirogue," 1911.

For a full biography of Schoonover visit www.schoonoverfund.org/about-fes.html.

The Biggs Museum, 406 Federal St., Dover, is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday.  Call 302-674-2111 or visit www.biggsmuseum.org.

 

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