Gilbert Gaul (American/Tennessee 1855-1919)

We were fortunate to discover and handle this  wonderful creek scene with ducks by well known Tennessee artist Gilbert Gaul. Although we do not know where it was painted, it could have been painted when he was living near Fall Creek Falls in Van Buren County, Tennessee on land he inherited from his maternal uncle, Hiram Gilbert. Hiram stipulated in his will that Gaul had to live on the land, so he built a long cabin and studio. Gaul split his time between Fall Creek Falls and New York City. He later taught at Cumberland Female College in McMinnville, Tennessee. He opened a studio in Nashville in 1905.

Cornelius Hankins

We recently acquired for the gallery a wonderful early Still Life of Apples by Cornelius Haly Hankins. Hankins is one of Middle Tennessee’s best know early 20th century landscape and still life painters. Born in Guntown, Mississippi, Hankins moved to Nashville in 1883 and studied under Edwin M. Gardner, soon afterwards he move to Eagleville, Tennessee to teach at Miss Clark’s Select School for girls. Hankins then moved to St. Louis to study with Robert Henri, then with William Merritt Chase in New York City. Between 1894 and 1899, he lived and worked in Richmond, Virginia. By 1904 he was back in Nashville, where he lived for the remainder of his life as a portrait, landscape and still life painter.  Hankins was a prolific painter in the 20th century producing many small oil’s on board. We're delighted to have this early example of his work, showing the strong influence of William Merritt Chase.