The gallery sits opposite the Provincial Legislature and shows its back to the Saint John River. It was a gift of Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, a New Brunswick native who became a newspaper magnate and a British peer. His name and generosity are evident throughout the province. It has become a bone of contention between the trustees and the heirs of Lord Beaverbrook as to whether the valuable collection within was a donation or a loan. It is a remarkable collection for such a small provincial capital, and it would be a shame if it were removed and sent to auction. The heirs contend that such a collection should not be displayed in such an out-of–the-way place.
Regardless, immediately after the reception area (adult $5), there are three very valuable works by Salvador Dali: the magnificent Santiago El Grande (perhaps Dali’s best-known work), which is flanked by two extraordinary Dali portraits of Sir James Dunn and his wife, Lady Dunn. To the rear of that gallery is the Marion McCain Atlantic Gallery, which is hung with the works by Atlantic Canadian artists. On the occasion of our visit, the gallery concentrated on works by New Brunswick artists like Molly Lamb Bobak, Miller Brittain, Jack Humphrey, and Joseph Plaskett. It was remarkable to see them all together.
Returning to the reception area, we mounted the short stairway into the British Gallery, which, at the time, featured the works of Danzig-born Canadian artist Fritz Brandtner (on loan from the Montreal Museum of Fine Art). From this room, the visitor enters a triple gallery. The Vaulted Gallery features a permanent collection of 18th- and 19th-century art; to the right, the Hosmer Pillow Vaughan Gallery (also a permanent display) features an excellent collection of porcelain, a pair of tapestries, furniture, and a collection of paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries. It is an extremely eclectic and very fine grouping. Next to Sandro Boticelli’s "Christ Bearing the Cross" (c. 1500) is Tristan Hillier’s "The Crucifixion" (1954). On the left, the Max Aitken gallery features a couple of Gainsboroughs, and my personal favorite, Philip Mercier’s "Bacchanalian Piece: Sir Thomas Samwell and Friends" (1733), among other pieces, many of them portraits.
Downstairs, you will find a permanent collection of 27 Krieghoffs and a representation of other Canadian artists. Moving back to the reception area, one enters the Canadian Gallery, which features temporary exhibitions; at the time we were there, a new exhibition featuring the work of school children was being mounted.
I have visited the gallery many times over the years and have always enjoyed the permanent collection as well as the extraordinary quality of traveling exhibits. The building, which is ‘60s-modern in design and features excellent lighting and expansive galleries, is a wonderful place to spend some time.