Gallery Name: Through Another’s Eyes
Location:
Coolsville
Who runs it: Lisa Strebel
What do we show?
We specialize in art from the Revolutionary War.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Road to Independence
Exhibition Name: "The Road to Independence"
Artists:
John
Singleton Copley
Paul
Revere
Nathaniel
Currier
Robert Edge Pine & Edward Savage
John
Trumbull
John
Binns
Arnold Friberg
Arnold Friberg
Emanuel
Gottlieb Leutze
Howard
Chandler Christy
Archibald
M. Willard
Exhibition Statement:
This exhibition is a visual representation of the most influential
people and most dramatic events that led to establishing the United States. It was hard to pick only ten items that
adequately tell the story of the struggle for independence. They paint a vivid picture of these
moments that helped these people create the Republic of the United States. These exhibits convey the moment in a
way that words alone are not capable of.
They present a vivid picture of this pivotal time in our nation's
history.
Paul Revere
John Singleton Copley
Paul Revere
Oil on Canvas
35 × 28.5 in
(88.9 × 72.4 cm)
1768
John Singleton Copley (1738-1815) was an American painter
who is famous for his portrait paintings, primarily of important figures in
Colonial New England. One of his
most popular portraits is of Paul Revere.
This is Copley’s only finished work of an artisan in
shirtsleeves, and shows him at work.
It is one of only a few portraits Copley did of craftsmen, which
illustrates how important and respected Revere was, to have his portrait done
in this fashion. Revere is one of
the most prominent figures in Early American history not only for his work in
the militia and his warning of the British troops advancing, but also for his
artwork. We are lucky to have this
portrait as well as some of his pieces of silver to admire today.
Art historian, Paul Staiti commented, “Copley was the greatest
and most influential painter in colonial America, producing about 350 works of
art.”
The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770
Paul Revere
“The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street Boston on
March 5th 1770”
Copper engraving with watercolor on laid paper
25.8 x 33.4 cm.
(plate)
March 28, 1770
Paul Revere(1734-1818) was an American silversmith and
militia officer in the American Revoultion. He is most famous for alerting the militia of the British
forces approaching, as made famous in Henry Wasworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul
Revere’s Ride”. One thing that makes Paul Revere so interesting is that not only was he a prominent
figure in the militia, he was also a gifted artist. Most people know of his work with silver: his teapots and such. But most people don’t realize that he
was also a gifted engraver. This
engraving shows his skill in an area different than what he specialized
in. This piece is also important
because it helped spread the word of what happened in the Massacre. It was printed in the newspapers within
a few days of the event and helped to spread awareness of what happened that
day.
Margret Atkinson, an elementary school teacher wrote…”’ The
Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street...’ reflects a patriot perspective
on this important event in American history.”’
The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor
Nathaniel Currier
The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor
Color Lithograph
8.5 x 13 in.
1846
Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) was an American lithographer
and founder of Currier and Ives printmaking firm. Initially Currier focused on printing sheet music,
letterheads, hand bills, etc. Soon
after he began his career he began to focus on creating pictures of current
events such as “ The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor”. The Boston Tea Party (as it is known
today) was the Sons of Liberty showing the British Government that they were
not going to accept the outrageous taxes on tea. It was one of many issues that led to the Revolutionary War.
“Each of us have, in our mind's eye, a visual image of what it was
like to live a hundred or hundred and fifty years ago. Perhaps the most vivid
of these come from movies, westerns such as Stagecoach, small period
pieces like Little Women, or great epics like Gone with the Wind.
Some of our images come from the genre paintings of the era, such as the work
of Eastman Johnson. In some cases, crude photos of great events come to mind;
all of which have served to illustrate the ponderous old American history books
we all used to lug back and forth to class every day in high school. And if we
still had those books, and peered into them once more, we might realize yet
another type of imagery we've probably forgotten about, but which once made up
a very great part of how American's saw themselves in the nineteenth century--the
lithographic print. And at the top of that pictorial genre is the name, Currier
and Ives.” Jim Lane
Congress Voting for the Declaration of Independence
Robert Edge
Pine & Edward Savage (1761-1817)
Congress
Voting for the Declaration of Independence
Medium: Unfinished
stipple engraving printed on hand laid paper
Dimensions: 18
3/4 x 25 3/8”
1788
Robert Edge Pine and Edward Savage- Robert Edge Pine was an
English Artist who came to the United States in 1783. He was most famous for his paintings of historical events
and portraits. Pine died in 1788
leaving his painting “Congress Voting Independence” unfinished. Edward Savage was an American
goldsmith, engraver, and artist who obtained and finished Pine’s painting. Savage began work on an engraving of
this painting, but died before it was completed. This print is one of the rare few made off the unfinished
plate. This engraving is showing
one of the most important moments in out nation’s history: our founding fathers
declaring independence from British rule.
As stated on the Library of Congress website, “Edward Savage's
engraving, based on Robert Edge Pine's painting of the presentation of the
Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress, is considered one of
the most realistic renditions of this historic event.”
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
Oil on Canvas
365.76 cm × 548.64 cm (144 in
× 216 in)
1819
John Trumbull(1756-1843) was an American artist famous for
his historical paintings. Trumbull
was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
After he resigned from the Army he painted small pictures of the war and
mini portraits. With help from
Thomas Jefferson he began, “Declaration of Independence”, which now hangs in the
Rotunda of the United States Capitol. This defining moment in our history is so
important that it was produced for everyone to enjoy. If you can’t make it to the Capitol Building, all you need
to do is pull out a two-dollar bill to see this, the greatest moment in our
history. And the fact that
Trumbull had help from Thomas Jefferson, the undisputed father of the Declaration,
makes this piece even more special.
John Trumbull stated in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, "The
greatest motive I had or have for engaging in or for continuing my pursuit of
painting has been the wish of commemorating the great events of our country's
Revolution."
Declaration of Independence Engraving
John Binns
Declaration of Independence Engraving
Engraving
89.7 x 61 (35 5/16 x 24 in.)
1818 or 1819
John Binns was the publisher of the Republican newspaper,
“The Democratic Press”. The first
published copy of the Declaration of Independence was made on July 4, 1776. It wasn’t until 1818 that Americans
could see the text in engraved writing instead of print. Binns dedicated his work to the people
of the United States when he finished his engraving in 1819. Thomas Jefferson kept the rough draft
of the Declaration of Independence “scored and scratched like a schoolboy’s
exercise” at his home, Monticello, for his entire life. This shows how important this document
should be for everyone who calls America home. What better way is there for all Americans to enjoy this
document than to have it mass produced so that everyone can have a copy
available to them! It is a reminder of what has been, and continues to be
important enough to fight for.
John Binns was one of the first to realize, in June of 1816, the
potential market for a "splendid and correct copy of the Declaration of
Independence, with fac-similes of all the signatures, the whole to be encircled
with the arms of the thirteen States and of the United States" (as
described in his solicitation for subscribers).
The Prayer at Valley Forge
Arnold Friberg
The Prayer at Valley Forge
Oil on canvas
45” x 72”
1975
Arnold Friberg(1913-2010) was an American illustrator and
painter who is best known for his religious and patriotic works. His painting, “The Prayer at Valley
Forge” is one of his most popular
and well known paintings. He was
also nominated for an Academy Award for his paintings of Cecil B Demille for
the film “The Ten Commandments”.
In most paintings and sculptures we see Washington as something of a
super human being. He carried this
nation on his back and led men in battle after battle. As a general he could have stayed nice
and warm in his tent or home, but George Washington would have none of
that. He was out there freezing
with his men every single night.
This painting shows General George Washington as a man, on his knees
pleading with the Lord. That is
the man who is the Father of our nation.
A humble god fearing man, not a super hero.
Arnold Friberg said of this piece, “What I really tried for,
through the medium of paint, was to recall the pain, and the cold of that cruel
winter of 1777-78. I sought to pay
tribute to the tall and heavy-burdoned man who held our struggling nation
together.”
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Oil in Canvas
378.5 × 647.7
cm (149 × 255 in)
1851
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (1816-1868) was a German American
history painter. His most famous
painting is, “Washington Crossing the Delaware”. Leutze began to develop his artistic talents while he sat at
the bedside of his ailing father, drawing to pass the hours away. After his father’s death in 1831 he
painted portraits for $5 each to support himself. In 1834 he took his first art classes and his career began to
flourish. Although historians
agree that this is not an accurate representation of Washington ( there is no
way he could have stood on that boat as it crossed the perilous waters of the
Delaware) no one doubts the beauty
and craftsmanship of this piece. Most people probably don’t realize what trials Leutze endured to bring this
beautiful painting to completion.
He finished the first painting in 1850, and shortly after it was damaged
by a fire in his studio. It was subuequently
restored and acquired by Kunsthalle Bremen. Then in 1942, in Germany, during
WWII, it was destroyed in a bombing raid by the British Royal Air Force. The second painting, a full size
replica of the first, was begun in 1850 and placed in New York on exhibit in
1951. If it hadn’t been for the second
painting we would not be able to enjoy this painting today.
Signing of the Constitution of the United States
Howard Chandler Christy
Signing of the Constitution of the United States
Oil on Canvas
20' x 30'
1940
Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952) was an American artist
and illustrator who studied in New York at the National Academy and the Art
Students League. His painting, “Signing of the Constitution of the
United States” is one of the most famous paintings of the early days of our
nation. It is so big that he
painted it in the sail loft of the Washington Navy Yard. The finished painting hangs in the
Capitol Building. The constitution
is another document that defined America and what she stands for. This enormous painting is truly
awe-inspiring! When you stand
beneath it one can hardly believe one man painted it all. In order to make this painting as
accurate as possible, Christy located portraits of all but two of the men shown,
and studied them to make the painting as true to life as possible. He also researched costumes from the
Smithsonian Institution as well as furniture. Additionally, he sketched at Independence Hall in September
during the time of day as the signing, so he could get the lighting as true as
possible. He spent five years
researching, and seven months painting.
That dedication shows in the final product you see in the Capitol
Building in Washington DC.
“For two years
Artist Christy and Congressman Bloom scoured libraries and picture collections
looking for likenesses and descriptions of the Constitution's 39 signers. To
make the picture as accurate as possible they gathered mountains of data on
costumes and furniture. When Artist Christy actually got around to painting the
picture, he knew from warts to shoe buckles how every one of his historical
sitters looked, except two. He made up a face for Jacob Broom; he painted
Thomas FitzSimons with his face obscured by the upraised arm of a colleague.”
Excerpt from Time Magazine, September 29, 1941
Spirit of '76
Archibald M. Willard
Spirit of ‘76
Oil on Canvas
61cm x 45 cm (24in x 18in)
1875
Archibald M. Willard (1836-1918) was an American painter who
fought in the Civil War. He
painted “The Spirit of ‘76” (previously known as “Yankee Doodle”) after seeing
a parade in his hometown of Wellington, Ohio. He used his father as the model for the middle character. Willard painted several later versions
which traveled around the country, but they all evoke the same feelings of
honor, pride, and love. Seeing
these three men marching for their country, marching through the battlefield
playing music, is something so beautiful and simple. It is no wonder it evokes such powerful feelings from
those who stand before it.
J. C. Smith
said of this painting, “It is considered to be one of our nation’s most
inspirational and patriotic paintings and destined to have everlasting appeal!”
Conclusion
This exhibit shows some of the trying times people chose to endure. The road to independence wasn’t a quick
trip, it took over twenty years. This was a process, and one that men dedicated
their entire lives to. They made this oath “… we mutually pledge to each other
our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” This project was more difficult than I first thought it
would be. It was very tedious to
find all the specific information on these famous pieces of art. In the day of digital information,
having all this data at my fingertips, I still found myself searching for hours
for one tiny piece to make all of it fit together. It was really interesting to learn more about some of these
paintings that I already love so much.
I have actually had the opportunity to see many of the originals, and it
makes me eager to see them again. This
project has renewed my appreciation for the great sacrifices of the founders of
this nation.
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