This fall the extraordinary collection of prints and drawings carefully assembled over a 50-year period by long-time New Hampshire residents David and Barbara Stahl will be on view for the first time at the Currier Museum of Art from September 26, 2009–January 3, 2010. Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection showcases their intellectual curiosity as collectors and their passions for art, history and social commentary.
The earliest prints in the collection are by some of the most important old master print-makers including Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Jacques Callot. The strength of the collection is in American twentieth-century prints and drawings by internationally-known artists such as Edward Hopper, John Sloan, and Reginald Marsh. Also notable is a haunting group of impressions by German Expressionist artists George Grosz, Erich Heckel, Max Beckmann, and Max Pechstein. David and Barbara also sought out talented artists working in New England. Their collection includes outstanding works by Peter Milton, Ed and Mary Scheier, Robert Neuman, Hyman Bloom, Sigmund Abeles and very early examples by New Hampshire Artist Laureate James Aponovich.
As young collectors in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Barbara and David Stahl sought out the sage advice of Charles Buckley, director of the Currier from 1955 through 1964. The union of Mr. Buckley's art historical knowledge and academic acumen and the Stahls' willingness to learn were the guiding forces from which this distinguished collection was formed.
David Stahl encourages young art appreciators to begin collecting. "When we started collecting, there were many surprising purchases made for modest sums. It's not so easy for young collectors now, but there are younger artists working in various print media, and older artists as well, many of whose works are affordable for serious collectors of limited means," said Stahl. "There are still opportunities out there, and the quest itself is rewarding."
The Stahls' rise to erudite connoisseurs was hastened through impassioned study and frequent trips to galleries and museums throughout the United States and Europe. With the first major museum presentation of their collection, the Currier celebrates the extraordinary life of Barbara and David Stahl as collectors and patrons of the arts.
Learn firsthand about David Stahl's passion for collecting on Sunday, October 4 at 3pm as he speaks with Associate Curator Kurt Sundstrom about the works on view in the special exhibition Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection. Open to the public and free with museum admission.
This exhibition is generously supported by M. Christine Dwyer and Michael Huxtable.
About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (
http://www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi.
The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. To book a tour or get more information, visit
http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, ext. 108.