Winslow Homer's 1904 Watercolors of the Homosassa River
 Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park invites the public to enjoy a permanent exhibit highlighting Winslow Homer's 1904 watercolors of the Homosassa River. Winslow Homer is considered by many to be one of America's greatest artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The artist lived from 1836 to 1910. The display of Homosassa paintings and others from his visits to the tropics is on display in the Florida Room of the Visitor Center at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
To view the paintings of the exhibit here on this web site, click the button above or below which will take you to a "gallery" page where you can individually view the paintings as per your selection.
The exhibit contains photographs of the artist and copies of his letters to his brother about our area are also part of the exhibit. Also, a copy of the Guest Register page from the Homosassa Lodge shows entries and charges made by Homer during his January 1904 visit.
Homer painted eleven known watercolors during his 1904 stay of approximately a month. When not painting, Homer enjoyed the excellent fishing on the Homosassa River. One photo shows the famous artist in a boat with two local fishing guides on the Homosassa River.
A native of Prout's Neck, Maine, Homer made his first trip to Florida in the winter of 1885-1886 where he enjoyed the warmer climate and fishing and painting opportunities. In the years following he made several mid-winter trips by steamer from New York to Florida. He stayed in various locales around Florida and the nearby Caribbean islands. Favorite Florida locations included Jacksonville, Enterprise on the St. John's River, Tampa and Key West. He was attracted to the picturesque Homosassa area after hearing about it from friends and fellow travelers. His first visit was in January 1904, when he traveled again by steamer from Key West up Florida's Gulf Coast to Homosassa.
Homer wrote to his brother Arthur that year describing Homosassa as, "Delightful climate here about as cool as our September - fishing the best in America as far as I can find."
The new park exhibit is on permanent display in the Florida Room at the Visitor Center and is the result of two years' research and gathering of interpretive materials. There is no admission charge to see the Winslow Homer in Homosassa exhibit.
To view the paintings of the exhibit here on this web site, click the button above which will take you to a "gallery" page where you can individually view the paintings as per your selection.
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