The Palmer Museum of Art is currently featuring an exhibit that highlights more than 50 works of American art, dating from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century.

An Endless Panorama of Beauty: Selections from the Jean and Alvin Snowiss Collection of American Art is the inaugural exhibit in the museum's William Hull Gallery and will be in the gallery through May 16.

The exhibit's title, which comes from a phrase featured artist Charles Burchfield once used to describe a winter scene, illustrates the panoramic view of American art provided by the collection, Curator Joyce Henri Robinson said.

"It's a remarkably rich array of all types of genres in American art, from portrait to still life to landscape to genre scene, all of which were very important in the development of American art," Robinson said.

The Snowisses are Lock Haven residents and honorary alumni of Penn State who began collecting art 26 years ago with the purchase of "Descent from the Mountains," a painting by Philadelphia artist Robert Street. The 170 year-old painting is featured in the gallery exhibit.

Alvin Snowiss said this purchase was simply to fill the wall over his fireplace, not to begin a serious American art collection.

While Snowiss could not pick a favorite painting, he said he enjoys the opportunity to share the collection with others in the Palmer Museum of Art.

"These paintings were created by people some time ago, and we are mere caretakers for a short time," Snowiss said. "We want the community to enjoy the collection because we enjoy living with it."

Robinson said the Snowisses continue to add to their collection by purchasing paintings they want to admire as art on their walls, not as artifacts in a closet.

"Jean and Alvin fall in love with particular pictures rather than trying to collect works by certain artists," Robinson said. "It's a picture-by-picture event for them."

The collection includes a 1940 painting by Georgia O'Keeffe, "From the Patio No. II," as well as works from early American modernists Arthur Dove and John Marin.

"This collection really tells the story of American art," Robinson said. "To tell the story, you must have all genres."

In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum will also host a series of lectures by three American art history scholars.

Rachael Ziady DeLue, assistant professor of art history will speak Feb. 4, Erika Doss, professor of art history will follow Feb. 25 and Sarah Burns, professor of fine arts at Indiana University, Bloomington will conclude the series March 18.

All three lectures are free and will be held at 7 p.m. in the museum's Palmer Lipcon Auditorium.