Grace Hudson Museum

Romance of the Bells: The California Missions in Art

February 10 - April 22, 2007

"Queen of the Missions, Santa Barbara" by Paul Grimm (1892-1974), oil on canvas, 1945, 28 x 36 inches
Private Collection, Courtesy of The Irvine Museum.

A traveling exhibition entitled Romance of the Bells: The California Missions in Art, will open at Grace Hudson Museum on February 10, 2007, and continue through April 22, 2007. Romance of the Bells is a collection of 59 oil paintings, etchings, and watercolors depicting the 21 California missions built by the Spaniards between 1769 and 1823. The exhibition comes to Ukiah courtesy of The Irvine Museum in southern California.

The opening reception for the exhibit will begin at 2 p.m. on February 10 with an illustrated art lecture entitled "The Missions of Alta California" by Jean Stern. Mr. Stern is the Executive Director of The Irvine Museum and is the primary author and editor of the beautifully narrated and illustrated exhibition catalog. A reception and book signing will follow Mr. Stern's lecture. Refreshments will be served.

"San Luis Rey" by Charles Harmon (1859-1936), oil on board, 30 x 46 inches
Private Collection, Courtesy of The Irvine Museum.

The Romance of the Bells exhibit encompasses the work of some of California’s finest landscape artists from the late 1800s to mid-1900s, including well-known Impressionist painters. Visitors to the exhibition will have the rare opportunity to learn about the history of the California missions – a story that begins with an expansion of territory announcement by Catherine the Great of Russia! – while enjoying original works of art depicting those missions.

"Mission Cloisters, San Juan Capistrano" by Alson Clark (1876-1949), oil on canvas, 35 3/4 x 46 inches
Private Collection, Courtesy of The Irvine Museum.

The Romance of the Bells exhibition was conceived by Joan Irvine Smith, President of the Board of Directors of the Irvine Museum and a longtime admirer of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The staff of Mission San Juan Capistrano and The Irvine Museum collaborated closely in creating both the exhibition and the book. Their goal was to collect under one roof the best of the many exceptional works of art inspired by the lovely California missions. The staff of the Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House, through the support of the Sun House Guild, are proud to present this fine selection of artworks.

"Pala Mission" by Edith White (1855-1946), oil on canvas, 12 x 18 inches
Private Collection, Courtesy of The Irvine Museum.