Key Bank Art Gallery
A Gallery is Born
With the Key Bank donation of The Battle of Lake Champlain, an 1884 oil on canvas by Julian O. Davidson (1853-1894), we dedicated a gallery for original works of art relating to the battles at Plattsburgh and the War of 1812.
Complementing the Davidson painting are several works in oils, watercolors, and metal. Here are a few:
The Art is Everything
Dean Mosher
In 2001, with a generous grant from Key Bank, we commissioned a work from Alabama artist Dean Mosher. His work Close Action depicts the critical moment in the naval battle when American Commandant Thomas Macdonough directed the "winding" or turning of the USS Saratoga to bring a fresh broadside to bear against the British fleet.
Violet Bernstein
The untitled 1953 work in oil of Commodore Thomas Macdonough was a personal possession of Ms. Bernstein who moved from Plattsburgh in her later years. After her death, the family graciously donated the piece to us. It depicts Macdonough leaning on the flagship's bulwark contemplating his fleet's fate before the naval battle
John Jesse Purdy (1962 - 2023)
We are currently featuring the watercolor works of this talented Elmira, NY artist. Two of the five works on display depict the early morning of 6 September 1814 as the British army advanced on the village and their crossing of the Saranac River five days later on September 11, 1814. Two additional works present individual foot soldiers rushing to action at the British and American lines. We celebrate the life and talents of our friend and fellow re-enactor.
Crab Island Plaques
The four original bronze-cast plaques removed from the Crab Island obelisk in 1988 are on loan to our gallery from the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.