Title: Coaldale Colliery

Media: Oil on Canvas

Size: 25" x 30"

Signatures: Signed lower left

Circa: 1940

Region: North America

Provenance: Acquired from a Private Collection

Notes:

Art writer, Geoff Gehman, described Berninger as being in the "outer ring of the New Hope School." His career was devoted to depicting his region in realist-impressionist style, especially snow scenes and landmarks such as Meyers Bridge in Allentown. He often painted regional or local scenes as seen in this painting of the Coaldale Colliery. Berninger’s depiction of the Coaldale Colliery clearly shows his realist style, although he painted many impressionist style landscapes too. The Coaldale Colliery was located in Schuylkill County, PA and was part of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company - Coaldale was noted as producing the celebrated “ Old Company’s Lehigh Coal”. Although there were numerous mining accidents at Coaldale, it was regarded as one of the safer mines to work in.

Source:

N.Y Times, January 18th, 1915

Exhibited:

The. Rodale Gallery at the Baum School of Art. In 2004 the Rodale Gallery and the Baum School of Art held an exhibition of his work. 2004 and 2005, Berninger's work was included in the Allentown Art Museum's exhibit, "Allentown Impressions: Views of City Parks." In 2006, Berninger's work was included in an exhibition at the David E. Rodale Gallery at the Baum School of Art highlighting the work of the Baum Circle including John Berninger's work.