Born in 1869, Commodore Perry Snell was raised in Bowling Green and loved to travel. He lost his father and siblings before the age of 12, and his mother by the time he was 25. Following graduation from Western, Snell married Tennessee heiress Lillian Allen and moved to Florida, where he became a wealthy real estate developer and created what is now Snell Isle in St. Petersburg. The couple collected European artifacts and artwork to decorate their new Mediterranean Villa, often vacationing in Europe.
In 1929, when Gabrielle Robertson began collecting artifacts for the new museum collection, C. Perry Snell donated his collection of European treasures – dating from 3500 BCE to the early 1900s. Snell died in 1942 and is buried in Bowling Green.
For years, the C. Perry Snell collection has fascinated visitors. But our limited collections funding means we do not have the resources for a professional assessment – both to expand our knowledge of the pieces and to have them conserved so they can remain on view and available for study.
Will you support assessment and conservation of this unique collection?
Please consider making a gift using the green button below. All gifts count towards adoption of the collection, and every dollar will directly benefit the collection. For gifts of $1 to $249, you will co-adopt an artifact with another donor. For gifts of $250, you will solely adopt the artifact. Gifts may be made in full or paid over time in installments.
Thank you in advance!
Our Progress
“Gabriel Blowing His Horn”
circa 1750
Oil paint on canvas, 18″ by 14″ in a gilt frame. Object # 1929.5.8
Available for adoption.
Landscape of a Grist Mill
circa 1630
Painting of a grist mill by Adriaan van der Cabel. Object # 1929.5.10
Available for adoption.
Christ Pantocrator
Date unknown
Russian icon in silver gilt riza or oklad. Features an inscription in Old Slavic, the language of the Russian Orthodox Church, stating, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, e’en as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Oil painting on board with silver and gold. Object # 1929.5.41
Available for adoption.
“Bowling Green Mona Lisa”
Date unknown
Painting of a female subject, nicknamed the “Bowling Green Mona Lisa” by former art history professor Dr. Patricia Truitty-Coohill. The woman holds a feather and bears a likeness to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” Likely mid-16th century. Object # 1929.5.53
Available for adoption.
Three Saints
circa 1700
Russian icon of Three Saints, oil paint on board in a wood gilt frame. Object # 1929.5.56
Available for adoption.
Painting of the Madonna
Date unknown
Oil paint on metal, 9″ by 6″, in gold metal frame. Object # 1929.5.69
Available for adoption.
Painting of the Holy Family
circa 1650
Oil paint on metal, 6.5″ by 8.5″ in a gold metal frame. Object # 1929.5.70
Available for adoption.
Painting of a Peasant Woman
circa 1700
Oil paint on canvas, 11″ by 10″, in a gilt wooden frame. Object # 1929.5.78
Available for adoption.
Drawing of St. George and the Dragon
circa 1600
Ink on paper, 10″ by 6.5″ in an ornate gilt frame. Object # 1929.5.98
Available for adoption.
Madonna by Giovanni Battista Salvi di Sassoferrato
1600s
Painting of the Madonna by Giovanni Battista Salvi di Sassoferrato. Oil paint on wood in gilt frame. Baroque school. Object # 1929.5.103
Available for adoption.
Painting of a woman bathing
Date unknown
Oil paint on board in a gilt frame. Object # 1929.5.116
Available for adoption.
Mercury Leads the Three Graces to Paris
Date unknown
Painting of Mercury leading the Three Graces to Paris, oil paint on board. Object # 1929.5.117
Available for adoption.
Triptych
Circa 1621 to 1625
Triptych featuring a copy of Peter Paul Reuben’s “Consignment of the Regency,” which was painted between 1621 and 1625. Inscribed and carved ivory frame hinges so it folds in three sections. Each section or panel has a glass insert and a leather back. Object # 1929.5.127
Available for adoption.
St. Barbara
Date unknown
Icon depicting St. Barbara. There is a legend in Russian or Old Slavic next to the crown and halo. Tempera paint and gold leaf on wood, in a dark brown/black wooden frame. Object # 1929.5.200
Available for adoption.
Miniature of Lady
Date unknown
Miniature of a lady stabbing herself. She has long brown hair and an upward turned face. Heavy gilt frame. Object # 1929.5.204
Available for adoption.
Marble Statue of a Nude Woman
Date unknown
Marble statue of a nude woman with two nymphs or sprites. Object # 1929.5.272
Available for adoption.
Four Seasons Statue
Date unknown
Four seasons statue with a wooden base. Each statue is roughly finished with distinctive features representative of the seasons. Winter depicts a figure sitting on a pile of sticks and warming hands over a small brazier. Summer depicts a figure standing and drinking from a wine glass. Spring depicts a figure standing and draped with a garland of flowers. Fall depicts a figure sitting on a sheaf of grain and holding stalks of grain and a sickle. Object # 1929.5.274
Available for adoption.
Wooden Mary
Date unknown
Wooden carved statue of Mary, the Madonna, wearing a long robe of red and bronze. Her hair hangs down her back. Object # 1929.5.282
Available for adoption.
Wooden Joseph
Date unknown
Wooden carved statue of Joseph wearing a long robe of red and bronze. Object # 1929.5.283
Available for adoption.
Terracotta Oil Jar
Circa 1890
Hand painted terracotta oil jar. Made in Italy. Object # 1929.5.285
Available for adoption.
Apothecary Jar #1
Circa 1925
Part of pair of two blue and white majolica apothecary jars / covered urns. Painted in allegorical scenes with snake handles. Ceramic with glaze, made in Italy. Object # 1929.5.287
Available for adoption.
Apothecary Jar #2
Circa 1925
Part of pair of two blue and white majolica apothecary jars / covered urns. Painted in allegorical scenes with snake handles. Ceramic with glaze, made in Italy. Object # 1929.5.288
Available for adoption.
Carved Dower Chest
Date unknown
Carved dower chest, front and ends are cardes with cupids. Wood. Object # 1929.5.310
Available for adoption.
Panel of Griffins
Date unknown
Panel carved with griffins and a man’s head in the center. Wood. Object # 1929.5.311
Available for adoption.
Spanish Key Cabinet
Date unknown
Spanish cabinet set on a carved walnut base, containing seven large drawers and three secret drawers behind the center door. Front is carved and painted in gilt and other colors, and the drawers have wooden pulls and small columns of carved bone. Each drawer has a key hole (keys are missing). Object # 1929.5.312
Available for adoption.
Spanish Madonna Cabinet
Date unknown
Old Spanish cabinet resting on a carved base. Front has 17 drawers and 2 doors, one possibly featuring a carved Madonna. Drawers have metal pulls, and cabinet has handles at the end. Open space below drawers. Object # 1929.5.313
Available for adoption.
Spanish Console
circa 1550
Spanish console or cabinet that likely sat on top of a matching chest. The door panel states that the coat of arms belongs to the noble family of Molina, descendants of the lords of Lora del Rio, Aragon and Andalusia. Wood with gold and paint. Object # 1929.5.316
Available for adoption.
Tapestry
Date unknown
Antiqued tapestry (seen behind objects) with garden scene. Green and brown threads weave a scene of six women, four men, one child and a dog with trees and flowers. Object # 1929.5.317
Available for adoption.
Mosaic Table
Date unknown
Marble mosaic table top with Roman designs. Object # 1929.5.318
Available for adoption.
Spanish Brazier
Date unknown
Spanish brazier with six turned wooden legs, with brass bowl in the center for charcoal. Bowl has two handles and gilts into wooden frame, decorated with brass ornaments. Object # 1929.5.319
Available for adoption.
Carved Sideboard
Date unknown
Carved sideboard with doors at the top featuring carved figures holding books painted in color and gilt. The bottom has two drawers with metal pulls on drawers. Possibly a piece of religious furniture. Object # 1929.5.320
Available for adoption.
Antique Madonna
Date unknown
Statute of the Madonna with long flowing hair and a robe, holding a child (likely Jesus) in her arms. Child is holding one arm up. Object # 1929.5.322
Available for adoption.