Galveston County Historical Museum opens new exhibit: Inspired! A Collection of Early Galveston Artwork

The Galveston County Historical Museum will open a new exhibit at the July 5th Artwalk. Inspired! A Collection of Early Galveston Artwork will feature 35 paintings from various local artists spanning from the late 1800s to the 1970s. The exhibit will run through August 24.

Two of the most well known artists represented in the exhibit are Julius Stockfleth and Paul Schumann. Stockfleth emigrated to the U.S. from an island now part of Germany in 1883. His most notable work depicts scenes from Galveston’s wharves. This exhibit also includes two of his paintings of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Schumann, also a German native, came to Galveston at age six and eventually studied art under Stockfleth. The exhibit includes 11 paintings by Schumann.

The most recent work in the exhibit was painted by Margaret Stone, who resided in Galveston in the late 1960s and early 1970s. When asked what inspired her painting in Galveston, she said, “The warmth of the people, the wonderful gulf environment, and close and supportive friends in the active art league… My sons all remember their early years in Galveston and the fun and exploring they did. It was a good time in our lives.” Stone was very active in the Galveston Art League.

Pieces by Boyer Gonzalez, Emil Bunjes, Joan Singleton, and several other of Galveston’s most important artists from the past two centuries will also be on exhibit. The pieces are from a private collection. This is a special opportunity to see these rare paintings.

The museum is a joint project of Galveston County Commissioners Court and Galveston Historical Foundation. The museum is located at 2219 Market Street in downtown Galveston. Summer hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.