First City through the Eyes of Masters

This week is the last week for Historic City News readers to experience the popular free art exhibit “The First City through the Eyes of Masters” in St. Augustine. The unique exhibit kicks off the ancient city’s 450th anniversary year.

Featured are St. Augustine-themed works from 19th and early 20th century Florida painters. The free exhibition is uniquely displayed in a then-and-now format with many of the early St. Augustine paintings accompanied by a current photograph of the exact location and perspective for visitors to explore how America’s first city has changed throughout the centuries.

“The level of interest for First City has far exceeded our expectations,” said Dana Ste. Claire, director of the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration. “We welcome anyone who has not yet experienced this quality exhibition or those who would like to experience it again to visit the exhibition this week before it closes.”

This is the first and last time the show will travel before being permanently installed at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach.

More than 12,000 people have visited the exhibition since it opened on November 15th, and had the opportunity to take part in the walking tour component that continues the educational experience throughout St. Augustine by sharing exactly where to stand to see the current version of the historical paintings.

Works include the paintings of Frank Henry Shapleigh, who wintered at Henry Flagler’s Ponce de Leon Hotel from 1886 to 1887 and was the hotel’s resident artist from 1889 to 1892. Other artists featured include William Staples Drown, John James Audubon, Anthony Thieme and George Seavey. The current-day photographs are by Stacey Sather of SGS Design & Art.

The paintings are on loan from Cici and J. Hyatt Brown, and the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach. The Browns have amassed one of the largest collections of Florida-based materials that includes 2,700 works. Forty-five of those works are featured in “The First City through the Eyes of Masters” exhibition.

The exhibition is on display through January 12, 2015, at the Visitor Information Center located at 10 West Castillo Drive.