Last Updated: November 3, 2009

 

Matinecock Indian Chief Painting at Nassau County Museum

Peter Tilles, president Nassau County Museum of Art; Diane Yatauro, presiding officer Nassau County Legislature; Bob Isaksen, president Bank of America Long Island; Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi; Constance Schwartz, acting director Nassau County Museum of Art.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi was joined by Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, Peter Tilles, president of Nassau County Museum of Art, representatives from Bank of America and from the Locust Valley community to welcome a painting of a Matinecock Indian chief to its new permanent home at Nassau County Museum Art. The 1928 oil painting by George de Forest Brush is 36 inches by 26 inches. It was acquired by Matinecock Bank (later Bank of America) in 1938.
The painting was previously on display at the Locust Valley branch of Bank of America. When the closing of this branch was announced, local residents launched a letter-writing campaign to urge that the work remain in the community.
Discussion ensued between bank and museum officials and an agreement was quickly reached that would add this painting to the museum’s collection but
still allow it to participate in the bank’s Art in Our Communities program.
“Generations from now, Nassau residents will still be able to enjoy this magnificent work,” said Suozzi.
“At Bank of America, we take great pride in sharing our sizable and diverse art collection with the widest possible audience,” said Bob Isaksen, president Bank of America Long Island. “The Matinecock Indian chief painting has been a mainstay in the community for years, and we are thrilled to have helped find it a permanent home at a premier museum.”
“This addition to the museum’s permanent collection is very meaningful and will be a point of reference for thousands of school children as well as being a source of enjoyment for countless numbers of visitors,” said Constance Schwartz, the museum’s acting director.
“Our appreciation is extended to Bank of America for its generous gift.” “We are indebted to all the elected officials who helped make this possible. We are also grateful to Bank of America for their generosity in allowing this treasure to remain permanently in the community.
We look forward to visiting our Matinecock Indian at its new home for many years to come,” said Amy Driscoll, secretary of the Locust Valley Historical Society.
George de Forest Brush (American, 1855-1941) studied at Jean-Léon Gérome’s studio in Paris and then went to live among the Arapahoe, Shoeshone and Crow in Wyoming and Montana. His depictions of the tribal customs and daily lives of Indian subjects were published in such publications of the day as Harpers and Century magazines. He taught at Cooper Union and The Art Students League and was a member of, and exhibited, at the National Academy of Design.
Much celebrated in his lifetime, his paintings have not often been seen since. However, in 2008 the National Gallery of Art presented George de Forest Brush:
The Indian Paintings with a catalogue that included the first scholarly studies of this series of paintings.

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