Friends of T.C. Steele

preserving his art, his life, his legacy

News / Winter 2021 Newsletter / Virtual Gallery turns “100”

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We are very happy to announce that our virtual gallery now features 100 paintings by Theodore Clement Steele. Based upon member feedback from our member survey in 2018 a complete website refresh took place. One area surveyed “Utility” (usefulness) where we learned the following:   

70% of donors use the site to learn more about the paintings.

Abraham C. Shortridge portrait photographed at Indiana State Museum. Collection of Indianapolis Public Schools.
Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener with Steele Landscape

We began an initiative where we would not only place paintings by T.C. Steele, but also when possible, we would include provenance and write content using primary research and interviews with owners, experts, or curators of museums who had Steele’s in their collections. 

One example of how we conduct our research would be Los Angeles County Museum of Art who has a Steele, “Sunlight Late Summer” that is not on display. We made a call, received permission to work with the licensing group, and now have this beautiful painting displayed where visitors to our virtual gallery can see the painting that is current in storage at LACMA.      

Some paintings in the virtual gallery are in private collection, or locations that are not easily accessible to the public. We have received tremendous feedback on the approach, quality of images and content, and the help individuals and institutions have provide has been extraordinary.

“I am delighted to see the stunning array of T.C. Steele portraits of our city’s leaders in the Virtual Gallery, deftly capturing the spirit of those who helped shape our city—and in the case of President Harrison and notable contemporaries like Sewall, Riley, and Morton—our nation. It reminds us of Steele’s importance to Indiana’s burgeoning arts movement on the cusp of the 20th century, as well as his immense talent.”

Charles A. Hyde, President & CEO, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
  • This portrait of Herman Lieber portrait hangs in the Vonnegut Room at The Athenaeum.
  • Steele’s portrait of Charles E. Emmerich hangs in the auditorium foyer at Emmerich Manual High School in Indianapolis.

I think the representation of the genres and geographies of Steele’s body of work is excellent, and I have guided my clients to the Virtual Gallery who want to see the diverse work of T.C. Steele.

Jim Ross, Principal, James A. Ross Fine Art

Win a Signed Hardcover Edition

The first person to send us their favorite painting from the virtual gallery and why the painting is their favorite will win a free hardcover edition of The House of the Singing Winds: The Life and Work of T.C. Steele signed by author Rachel Berenson Perry. The winning name and entry response will be featured in our spring newsletter. Timestamp of the e-mail submission will be used to determine the winning submission. Entries must be sent to info@tcsteele.org.

This portrait of Dr. William B. Fletcher hangs in the historic lecture room at the Indiana Medical History Museum in Indianapolis. This was a very challenging shoot as the painting could not be removed from the plaster wall for photographing!

We have partnered with Media Nouveau (Laura Pence, founder) and Green Hat Media, LLC (Garrett Poortinga, founder) on this initiative. Both businesses are headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana.