I dropped in on the Rehoboth Art League’s new exhibition of work by Delaware painter Bertha Riley.

Born in Wilmington in 1870, Bertha began summering in Rehoboth during the late 19th century. She was an active member of the Rehoboth art colony and a founding member of the Rehoboth Art League. The exhibit showcases some of her paintings of seaside towns and the Delaware coast.

Some of you might be interested in knowing that Riley’s family was part of the Methodist movement in Rehoboth. Her mother Mary built what the Art League says was the first “permanent” house in Rehoboth at 18 Virginia Avenue. It’s still standing and was sided with vinyl a few years ago. Riley’s grand nephew owns the paintings on display. The old “Riley cottages” stand on Columbia Avenue between 2nd and 3d Streets. I’d love to see what’s in them.

Rehoboth Beach by Bertha Riley.

One of the Riley cottages on Columbia Avenue.