Gari Melchers was a distinguished late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century artist whose work was well known in Europe and the United States. He spent the major portion of his career as an expatriate, exhibited throughout the art capitals of Europe to great acclaim, and accepted important commissions that brought him to the United States for prolonged periods. His marriage to Corinne Lawton Mackall of Savannah led to a connection with that city’s Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences (later Telfair Museums). There he assumed a pivotal role, acquiring more than seventy paintings for the museum’s permanent collection. He is known for his Dutch paintings of everyday life and religious scenes; impressionistic landscapes, murals, and portraits; and leadership in several cultural organizations.
