I am the owner of an established fine art gallery specializing
in American paintings from the 19th through the 21st centuries.
As a private dealer our works are shown by appointment and
displayed at numerous antique and fine art shows throughout the
Northeast. As an art dealer I am often reminded that we are all
stewards of the great history of this country; our collections
are visual evidence of our links to the past. It does surprise
me just how often our “links to the past” are thrust right back
into the present. Such a situation is presently developing in
Providence, Rhode Island and concerns Brown University. Brown is
endeavoring to preserve the memory and home of one of the
nation’s most celebrated 19th century African-American artists,
Edward M. Bannister. This important historical undertaking has
brought to life a painting in our gallery by Bannister’s close
friend George W. Whitaker (1840-1916) who completed an
extraordinary painting as a tribute to fellow artist Edward
Bannister more than 100 years