Rochester Business Journal

The John L. Wehle Gallery at Genesee Country Village & Museum reopened Monday after a two-year, $2.7 million renovation, officials said.

The gallery’s collection, originally assembled by museum founder Wehle, embraces four centuries of paintings, prints and sculptures that celebrate animals in the wild and the history of hunting and fishing, museum officials noted. With 507 works, 80 of which are on display, the collection includes works from Europe’s and America’s most prominent artists, officials added.

“Our holdings are as rich as they are deep,” said Patricia Tice, the gallery’s curator. “We’re so fortunate to be the stewards of such an incredible assemblage of work, which has consistently drawn acclaim from critics and visitors worldwide.

“Our physical space is now fully equipped to display and preserve these works for the benefit of generations to come.”

Visitors will be able to see works by Swedish artist Bruno Liljefors, ranked among the greatest wildlife painters. There also are romanticized portrayals of big game by Carl Rungius and the action-packed canvases of Bob Kuhn, museum officials said.

The gallery also has naturalized bronze sculptures and the Greene Costume collection, a collection of 2,500 rare 19th-century garments, officials said.

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