RECEPTION ON OCTOBER 26th at THE ASHBY INN
An exhibition of the paintings of the late Gerald Hennesy, a renowned impressionist painter of Virginia landscapes, will be held at The Ashby Inn on October 26th, 2023, from 4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.. The exhibition, entitled “Autumn Splendor”, will feature a wide selection of oil on canvas paintings created by Hennesy over the course of his long and illustrious career.
Born in 1921, Hennesy had a rich history of art, and after studying art in high school, he won a scholarship to attend the Corcoran Gallery School of Art. When America entered World War II, he left his job as a Washington, D.C. newspaper artist to serve as a U.S. Navy carrier fighter pilot. After the war, he studied landscape painting with C. Gordon Harris, and painted part-time while working for the government. In 1972 he built a home and studio in Clifton, V.A. and devoted himself to painting and exhibiting his work full-time for the rest of his life. He passed away in March 2022 at the age of 100. His artistic legacy continues through two of his six children who are also painters.
Hennesy's paintings are characterized by his impressionistic style, primarily painted in oil, and inspired by his surroundings. He would find his subject matter in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and in France, where he traveled and painted in the footsteps of the Impressionists he admired. His paintings in this upcoming exhibition will include an array of verdant autumnal vistas from the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding Virginian countryside. We invite you to come enjoy Hennesy’s beautiful renderings of mountains, woodlands, meadows, and rivers draped in the magnificent colors of the fall season.
Paintings from his portfolio have been exhibited widely in commercial and museum galleries, which include the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Georgia Museum of Art, The Corcoran Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian Museum. They are also in numerous private, corporate, and public collections, including the U. S. House of Representatives, the State Department, the Maryland State Mansion, the D.A.R. Headquarters, and the American Legion Headquarters. He is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Art. The Byrne Gallery in Middleburg, V.A. currently represents Hennesy.
The exhibition at The Ashby Inn promises to be a unique opportunity for art lovers to experience the timeless beauty of Hennesy's work. With a career spanning decades, Hennesy's paintings have stood the test of time, earning him a place as one of the most celebrated impressionist painters of our time.
The Ashby Inn and Restaurant was built in 1829 by local blacksmith Manley Pierce, with additions added during the Civil War. The town of Paris, Virginia serves as a critical crossroad for those traveling between Winchester, Virginia and the District of Columbia throughout history. Experience exceptional Shenandoah Valley lodging and award winning, locally sourced, farm-to-table dining. For more information, go to ashbyinn.com.
The reception will take place on October 26th, 2023, from 4:00p.m. - 6:00p.m. at The Ashby Inn & Restaurant. The exhibition will be held in our Upper Dining room, located at 692 Federal Street, Paris, VA. 20130.
For more information, please contact: events@ashbyinn.com and byrnegallery@aol.com.