Special Exhibition to Open at Museum of the City of New York on February 9, 2024

The Museum of the City of New York, renowned as the city’s storyteller for over a century, has announced details for its upcoming special exhibition, Four Seasons of Central Park: Watercolors by Frederick Brosen, opening on February 9th. This installation marks the public debut of the artist’s new quartet of paintings capturing Central Park’s changing seasons. Traversing the masterpiece that is The Central Park, arguably the bucolic beating heart of New York City, Brosen’s carefully observed and masterfully rendered watercolor scenes cycle through Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, offering diverse perspectives from the widest to the most intimate views. Each stroke of Brosen’s watercolor brush builds layers, creating, in his own words, “a subjective and interpretive sense of each specific place.”

Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, Ronay Menschel Director and President of the Museum of the City of New York, says, “Central Park is not only a symbol of the city—one of the most filmed locations in the world—but also a year-round gathering place for cultural happenings grand and small. Four Seasons of Central Park shares a special visual journey through New York’s ‘backyard,’ leaving an indelible impression of its historic locations while reflecting both the passage of time and the weight of history.”

Works on View as Part of the Exhibition:

SPRING:

This ravishingly beautiful painting features Burnett Memorial Fountain on the park’s east side at 104th Street, in the Conservatory Garden’s South Garden. A masterpiece of color, light, composition, and reflection, the painting is heartfelt, fresh, and soft. It wordlessly captures a part of the park dedicated to the renewing power of stories and the narrative arcs that shape New Yorkers’ lives.

SUMMER:

This work depicts Belvedere Castle just after sunset—its turret, the highest structure in the Park, looms above the Ramble and the Turtle Pond behind the Delacorte Theater at 79th Street. The painting glows with the brief long light of a summer evening in the park.

FALL:

An intimate view of the Bethesda Fountain, this work depicts it in full autumn daylight. The painting portrays the fountain’s ordinary angel—one of Brosen’s favorite subjects—which stands not just at the heart of the park but of New York City itself. In this painting, the artist somehow manages to evoke the sound of quietly rushing water and nearly still mid-park fall air.

WINTER:

This piece shows the stunning Glen Span Arch following a snowstorm. In this intimate place, the waters of the Park connect the Pool on the west side to the North Woods above, and beyond them to the Harlem Meer at the Park’s far northeastern corner, just blocks from the Museum of the City of New York.

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One of America’s finest watercolor artists, Frederick Brosen infuses his artworks with architectural romance, creating urban landscapes that are imbued with a sense of history and personal experience. With masterful technique, he starts each work with a highly detailed sketch, slowly building color with light washes before adding layer upon layer of rich tone. His acclaimed work graces prestigious museum collections nationwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Historical Society, and the Museum of the City of New York.

For those eager to experience the beauty and history of Central Park through Frederick Brosen’s watercolors, Four Seasons of Central Park promises to be a captivating journey through the iconic landscapes of one of New York City’s most cherished landmarks. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Brosen’s artistry and the enduring allure of Central Park’s ever-changing seasons.