The painting has been cited with two names. Some have titled it “The Garden Scene” while others call it “Muses”. The painting features a painter in garden displaying a portrait of women to his model while statues of muses look down on them both.

Barbara Fritsche Olmanson has been in possession of the Gag painting for at least the past 57 years. The painting hung in her home in St. Peter for most of that time.

Last year her husband Dr. Don Olmanson passed away and Barbara is moving into a new home.

In the process of moving the family has decided to donate items to the museum. The Olmansons have donated several items to the museum in the past.

Staff photos by Clay Schuldt Barbara Fritsche Olmanson, in front, and her family pose with the Anton Gag painting they have donated to the Brown County Historical Society. From left are Schelli McCabe, Barbara Fritsche Olmanson, Leif Olmanson, Britta Olmanson and Thor Olmanson.

Olmanson said she was born in New Ulm and was happy here. She felt the painting was in good hands with the Historical Society.

Historical Society Research Librarian Darla Gebhard said the painting had passed through several generations of the Fritsche family. Barbra inherited the painting from her father, Dr. Albert Fritsche, who had previously inherited the painting from his father Dr. Lewis Fritsche. The painting was likely commissioned by August Schell and eventually gifted to the Fritsche family. Albert Fritsche did marry into the Marti family, meaning August Schell is related to Barbara Olmanson.

Schell was a patron of Gag’s work and loved nature, which might be why Anton often painted landscapes.

“Muses” was something of a departure for Anton Gag. While the painting depicts an outdoor setting it is more portrait than landscape.

Gebhard said the painting is great acquisition for the Historical Society.

“The museum has more than a dozen of Anton Gag’s paintings in its collections as well as several prints from his daughter Wanda Gag,” she said “but they are becoming harder and harder to come by, so it’s nice to have one come along like this.”

Along with the painting the Olmanson family donated a pair of antique chairs and a settee which will be displayed near the painting.

Gebhard said the plan is to display the painting with the antique furniture to create a parlor scene for the Christmas display being setup in the museum’s first floor.

This Christmas display and the painting will be on display to the public during Historic Society’s Nov. 24 Open House event.