In 1937 the General Assembly created a state museum to house World War I mementoes and other collections from the state, the Tennessee Historical Society and other groups. This museum was located in the lower level of the War Memorial Building until it was moved into the new James K. Polk Center in 1981. The Tennessee State Museum currently occupies three floors, covering approximately 120,000 square feet with more than 60,000 square feet devoted to exhibits.

Open: Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m.
Closed: Mondays and four holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The Military Museum: Open Tuesday through Saturday10 a.m. through
5 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays and the same four holidays.

The State Capitol: Open for guided tours Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Closed holidays.

Admission: Admission to the museum's permanent exhibits, the Military Museum and the State Capitol is always free. Most temporary exhibits are also free although admission may be charged to some.

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Changing Gallery I
Bernard de Clavière: Animalier Extraordinaire
Through August 22

The work of internationally renowned painter of Count Bernard de Clavière is currently on view in the Tennessee State Museum’s changing galleries. Bernard de Clavière: Animalier Extraordinaire will present 67 paintings on loan from private collections.

Born in Lyon, France in 1934, de Clavière and his wife, Barbara, relocated to Nashville in 2002, where the artist already had many friends among the Nashville art and equestrian communities.

During his youth, de Clavière moved to Paris, where he worked in an office during daylight hours and spent his nights drawing his “beloved” horses. Influenced by the art of George Stubbs and Jean-Baptiste Oudry, both renowned animaliers, (artists known for their realistic portrayal of animals). De Clavière’s painting technique improved as he experimented with light and in mixing his subjects with the background, and he eventually discovered his own classical style. In 1972, New York’s Wally Findlay Galleries featured some of de Clavière’s work, but it was at his 1975 exhibition at the John Partridge Gallery, London, where he had his first sold-out show.

Early in his career, de Clavière’s work was well received by J. T. Lundy, (the owner of Lexington, Kentucky’s acclaimed Calumet Farms, a thoroughbred breeding and racing facility), who commissioned him to paint the farm’s prize-winning stud, Alydar. Today, the Keeneland Race Track Association and the Kentucky Horse Park Museum also hold works by de Clavière in their collections.

At an exhibition in Palm Beach in 1978, de Clavière met Nashville’s Guilford Dudley, former ambassador to Denmark, with whom he struck up a friendship based on their mutual interests in horses and hunting. This resulted in stag hunts in France and fox hunts in Middle Tennessee, as well as portrait commissions from several prominent Music City natives seated astride their horses. The artist views Nashville as his “beginning of life in America.” On one of his stateside jaunts, Henry Hooker befriended de Clavière, who he then introduced him to John Sloan and Calvin Houghland of the Hillsboro Hounds. Fortunately for the artist, more portrait requests ensued.

While de Clavière was living in New York City from the late ‘80s to the mid-90s, a writer for The Wall Street Journal discovered his paintings at an exhibition in the city and anointed him as “one of the leading animaliers of the 20th century.” It was during this period that the Westervelt Press commissioned de Clavière to paint a series entitled, Working Dogs of the World. His most famous commission, however, came from the French ambassador in London, who asked him to paint Queen Elizabeth’s black mare, Burmese, and her corgi, Smokey, in front of Windsor Castle for a state gift France wanted to present to the queen.

Currently de Clavière is focused on a new project: designing the paintings and interior friezes for the royal arena in Qatar. During a visit to Kentucky, he met Judy Forbis, the president of the Egyptian Society for Arabian Stallions who became enamored of the artist’s work and commissioned three paintings of prize-winning stallions in her stables. Nearly 20 years later, Forbis called de Clavière with the news that a billion dollar world-class horse arena was being constructed in Qatar and he had been selected to decorate the structure with his paintings.

“A horse is mysterious. What I paint is horse – the spirit, the force of silence, its breath in an empty stall, without romanticism, and sentimentality, without false nostalgia,” de Clavière stated. For more than 40 years has he captured this essence in his art form, with his paintings sought out by collectors in 23 countries.


Changing Gallery II
Romance of the Horse
Through August 22

An exhibition which illustrates the close relationship between Tennesseans and horses, spanning more than 200 years, is on view in the museum's changing galleries. Romance of the Horse features selected elements of equestrian culture, and presents the work of 35 artists, along with such important equestrian artifacts as trophies, racing silks, and historic photographs and documents
The exhibition, which is centered on horses, is divided into six sections entitled: Adventure; Way of Life; Power; Escape; Bravery; and Inspiration. Each section explores the influence of the horse on the art, history and culture of the Volunteer State.
Much of the artwork included in the exhibit is on loan from area private collections and offers visitors the rare opportunity to view the work of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Gilbert Gaul and Tennessee artist Joseph Sulkowski, as well as works by many other artists, not normally on public display. Romance of the Horse also showcases artwork from the collection of the State Museum and Belle Meade Plantation.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• A series of bronze sculptures by internationally acclaimed artist Janel Maher
• Monkey On Horse by Pablo Picasso, limited edition print
• Le Cheval De Printemps by Salvador Dali, limited edition print
• Guilford Dudley by Sandor Bodo, oil on canvas
• Lorillard Cup, Official Iroquois Steeplechase trophy, from the collection of Belle Meade Mansion
• Night Horses by Richard Painter, burnt wood and glass
• Flying Horse Mandala by Phurba Namgay, ink on paper
• Yearling Sale at Belle Meade Barn by Joseph Sulkowski

The exhibit is presented in part by Frances Pilkington & Something Special and Nashville Arts magazine. Romance of the Horse continues through August 22, 2010 in the museum’s changing galleries. There is no admission charge.