Wildflowers of the Napa Valley exhibit extended at museum
The Napa Valley Museum Yountville has extended the “Sophie Alstrom Mitchell: Wildflowers of the Napa Valley” exhibition, which showcases the botanical watercolor paintings of this 19th century Napa Valley artist, through Sept. 28.
The exhibition features 64 of her works from the museum’s permanent collection, all created between 1882 and 1888, many of which are being shown together for the first time.
Sophie Alstrom Mitchell (born Sophie Marie Nordstrom, 1858, in Sweden) moved to St. Helena in the late 1800s. Growing up at the White Sulphur Springs Hotel, owned by her mother and stepfather Sven Ahlstrom, she developed a keen interest in native wildflowers.
Later, romance blossomed into marriage between Sophie and the Rev. James Mitchell, the founder of St Helena’s First Presbyterian Church who gathered blooms on his travels across the valley and delivered them to his wife for paintings. The result was a series of skillful and colorful masterpieces showcasing the art of watercolor as well as the diversity of the region’s botanical offerings. More than 150 species are depicted in these paintings.
Napa Valley Museum Yountville is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+), and $10 for youth (ages 6-17). Children under 5 are free of charge. Tickets are available online or at the door. For more visit https://napavalleymuseum.org/sophie-alstrom-mitchell/.
