Walsh Gallery and Special Collections at Seton Hall University has received a donation of 15 artworks from the Gorun family. The gift, made in the fall of 2025, includes paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that span various time periods and regions.
The collection features notable pieces such as a 2nd/3rd-century statue of Maitreya from Gandahara, a painting by German artist Erich Heckel from the 20th century, and five hand-painted illustrations from an early 17th-century botanical manuscript. According to gallery staff, these items enhance teaching resources related to world religions, book history, and American and European art.
Several staff members shared their favorite works from the donation. Emily Handlin, Gallery Director, highlighted botanical watercolors created in Saxony in 1618: “These botanical paintings are from a manuscript created in 1618 in Saxony, Germany. The manuscript’s unknown artist painted flowers native to Europe, but also illustrated yucca, cacti and other plants from the New World, which were all the rage in the gardens and greenhouses of wealthy Europeans at the time. One of the great things about working with museum collections is that the objects lead you to research topics that you would never have otherwise learned about, like 17th-century botany.”
Laura Hapke, Registrar for Walsh Gallery, selected Maximilien Luce’s “The Foundry” as her preferred piece: “My favorite piece from the Gorun donation is this painting of foundry workers by Maximilien Luce, in part because I had the pleasure of researching it for the catalog record. I liked learning about Luce–a French painter who lived 1858-1941 and was associated with the Anarchist movement. This painting and many of his other works show his interest in the experiences of working people and how the industrial revolution was impacting the world around him.”
Gallery Adjunct Kelly Martin pointed out Montague Dawson’s maritime scene: “My favorite work is Square-rigged Ship at Sea by Montague Dawson. The painting is full of interesting contrasts that draw me in: the rich blue ocean contrasts against the soft pink sky, it’s dynamic yet serene and simple yet masterfully detailed. I especially love the artist’s choice to set the scene at early sunset, which is conveyed only through the color of the sky and the subtle orange hues on the waves. This painting looks like it’s meant to hang above the fireplace of a classically dark wooden office, but it’s also delightfully pink!”
John Walako serves as Gallery Assistant; he chose David Johnson’s landscape as his standout artwork: “What I love about this piece is the way the artist uses light, dark and color perfectly to create a mood, so much so it’s transformative. The way the sunset and stillness and water are represented I can almost hear crickets chirping.”
The new acquisitions have already been used during class sessions focused on topics such as encounters with America during colonial times or developments in nineteenth-century art.
Those interested in using these pieces for educational or research purposes can contact Walsh Gallery via email.
