In Pursuit of the Picturesque: The Art of James Wells Champney

Through an array of paintings, pastels, photographs, and material culture,  In Pursuit of the Picturesque  takes a fresh perspective on the New England artist, James Wells Champney (1843-1903) and how he played a pivotal role in shaping late 19^th-century perceptions of nostalgia and beauty. This exhibition explores how Champney drew upon different topics within American art, including sentimental genre scenes, paintings of Colonial Revival motifs, and pastels of idealized female models. While the artist was involved in several New York artistic communities, he also resided in Deerfield and continually returned to this New England setting for its bucolic scenes and landscapes. As he depicted the town and its colonial character, Champney would eventually become known as Deerfield’s resident 19th-century artist.

This exhibition reexamines Champney and his work, particularly his involvement with the picturesque. In the late 19^th century, audiences gravitated toward images of old New England, ones that emphasized an ideal past and rural settings as an escape from the harsh realities of modern life. With subjects evoking the simplicity of a bygone era, Champney helped promote the Colonial Revival movement and a fascination with 18th-century material culture. Importantly, Elizabeth Williams Champney is also incorporated into the narrative, a prolific young adult author whose collaborations with her husband have often been overlooked. The exhibition brings together a select group of Champney’s artwork and associated materials from the collections of Historic Deerfield, surrounding institutions, and private collections. This rich assemblage provides a unique opportunity to explore the undercurrents that drove Champney’s artwork and delve into the aesthetic and cultural reasons behind his picturesque themes.