Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Through Director John Buchanan’s friendship with art historian Richard R. Brettell, the Dixon was introduced to Montgomery H. W. Ritchie, the owner of the vast JA Ranch near Amarillo, Texas. In addition to being a celebrated rancher, Mr. Ritchie was, like Hugo Dixon, British by birth and an enthusiastic collector of French Impressionist paintings.

Buchanan invited Mr. Ritchie to visit the Dixon, and he was charmed by the Dixon’s intimate scale, the hospitality of our community, and the important place his collection would hold at a museum still relatively young in its development.

In 1995, John Buchanan facilitated a partial gift, partial purchase from Montgomery H. W. Ritchie in Amarillo, Texas. Mr. Ritchie and the Dixons had very similar taste and often bought from the same art dealer, which made this acquisition a perfect addition to the collection.

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