PORTLAND, ME.- Dr. Daniel E. O’Leary, former Director of the Portland Museum of Art, has been given an exclusive opportunity for private access to the Winslow Homer Studio. For two weeks this spring, Dr. O’Leary will spend time in Winslow Homer’s private world to study and to write a book about Homer and the history of his work in Maine. Dr. O’Leary’s book will demonstrate the extensive role that Prouts Neck and the adjacent Cliff Walk played in Homer’s art, and will identify the entire range of seascapes that can be linked to specific locations in the area.

“This is a very special opportunity, and one that I deeply appreciate,” Dr. O’Leary said. “The creative output that Winslow Homer accomplished during the 26 years in his studio represents one of the foremost achievements in American art. Homer’s work could not have evolved and triumphed without this extraordinary site. I view this location as the most inspiring place in the history of American art, and I will particularly value the chance to explore Homer’s beloved Cliff Walk and trace the exact locations recorded in his paintings.”

Dr. O’Leary led the PMA from 1993 to 2006 and launched efforts to acquire the Winslow Homer Studio, restore it to its original condition, and build an endowment to preserve its future. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Michigan, Dr. O’Leary holds a Doctorate in Art History as well as an M.B.A. in Marketing and Management. He is currently CEO of the Quimby Family Foundation in Portland, Maine.

One of the most significant locations in the history of American art, the Winslow Homer Studio, located at Prouts Neck, Maine, is where the great American artist Winslow Homer (1836–1910) lived and painted many of his masterpieces from 1883 until his death. A National Historic Landmark, the newly renovated Winslow Homer Studio celebrates the artist’s life, encourages scholarship on Homer, and offers the opportunity to get in touch with Maine’s cultural and natural heritage. The Studio was opened to the public in 2012.

Dr. O’Leary’s study at the Winslow Homer Studio will take place from March 30 through April 10, 2015. Following this exclusive opportunity, scheduled public tours of the Studio will begin on April 16 and run through October 31. Tickets are $55, $30 for PMA members, and $25 for students with valid I.D. Advance reservations are required and group tours are available. For tickets, please call (207) 775-6148 or visit www.portlandmuseum.org/homer.