The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens was started by Ninah M. With more than 4,000 objects in its permanent collection it is the largest fine arts museum in northeast Florida. Its artifacts cover tapestries, porcelain, painting and sculpture from the Middle Ages all the way through to the 20TH century. Since it covers so much time with its collection, the museum covers many diverse styles of art including Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Impressionism art. These special styles are viewed through about nine or ten different galleries depending on when you go and which exhibits are showing. The Museum is located on the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. Closest to the banks are two large gardens covering about two and a half acres. In the middle of the property is a gigantic oak tree called the Cummer Oak. The gardens are intertwined with many statues and monuments, some dating back to last century. The gardens are influenced by two different tastes, Italian and English. All of the flowers are beautiful because of their bright colors and maybe the perfect lawn covering between the garden and their small ponds. The gardens "hardscape", or what Ninah and her husband Arthur called brick pathways and fountains were brought there by them in the late 1920's when they traveled through Europe and fell in love with the elegance and workmanship of the garden ornaments.
Joseph Jeffers Dodge left a lasting impression on me after visiting the Cummer. Dodge was called Jerry by many of his close friends and he was an important figure in the history of art and culture in the Jacksonville area. His legacies were not only left in art but in the culture as well because Dodge was so multi faceted. Jerry was the director of the Cummer from 1962 to 1972. As the director he made significant contributions and also made noteworthy acquisitions for the museum's permanent collection to make the museum itself a better place.
After scouring the Cummer Art Gallery from stem to stern, I found the piece of art I wanted to write this paper on. ... After having a conversation with a guide at the museum, he told me the artist was a musician as well as a renowned visual artist. ...
