Harding's Gallery () in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, exhibited works by European and American artists in the 1830s-1840s. The building on

School Street School Street is a short but significant street in the center of Boston, Massachusetts. It is so named for being the site of the first public school in the United States (the Boston Latin School, since relocated). The school operated at variou ...

also housed a newspaper press; the Mercantile Library Association; the

Boston Artists' Association The Boston Artists' Association (1841–1851) was established in Boston, Massachusetts by Washington Allston, Henry Sargent, and other painters, sculptors, and architects, in order to organize exhibitions, a school, a workspace for members, and t ...

; and artists' studios. The building's name derived from painter Chester Harding, who kept his studio there. ChesterHarding ca1843 SelfPortrait MFABoston

ChesterHarding ca1843 SelfPortrait MFABoston

History

Jefferson auction

In July 1833, an auction occurred at the gallery of some of the paintings bought by

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (, 1743July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the United States Declaration of Indepe ...

in Paris, and subsequently hung about his house at

Monticello Monticello ( ) was the primary residence and plantation of Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third president of the United States. Jefferson began designing Monticello after inheriting l ...

. Original works for sale included a portrait of

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

by Joseph Wright/

John Trumbull John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an American painter and military officer best known for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Revolut ...

(1784); a portrait of

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before Presidency of John Adams, his presidency, he was a leader of ...

Mather Brown Mather Brown (baptized 11 October 1761 – 25 May 1831) was an American painter who was born in Boston, Massachusetts and was active in England. Early life and education Brown was the son of Gawen and Elizabeth (Byles) Brown, and descended from ...

(1788); and a portrait of Lafayette by Joseph Boze (1790). The auction also offered copies of works by

Domenichino Domenico Zampieri (, ; October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), known by the diminutive Domenichino (, ) after his shortness, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School of painters. Life Domenichino was born in Bologna, son of a shoe ...

;

Holbein Holbein may refer to: *Holbein (surname) *Holbein, Saskatchewan, a small village in Canada *Holbein carpet, a type of Ottoman carpet *Holbein stitch, a type of embroidery stitch * Holbein (crater), a crater on Mercury {{Disambig ...

;

Godfrey Kneller Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (born Gottfried Kniller; 8 August 1646 – 19 October 1723) was a German-born British painter. The leading Portrait painting, portraitist in England during the late Stuart period, Stuart and early Georgian eras ...

(portrait of John Locke); Leonardo; Le Sueur;

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...

; Ribera;

Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat. He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens' highly charged compositions reference erudite aspects of clas ...

;

Van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck (; ; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy. The seventh child of Frans van Dyck, a wealt ...

; and others. Some of the copies depicted originals in the

Palazzo Pitti The Palazzo Pitti (), in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The core of the present ...

and elsewhere. Jefferson's paintings of Natural Bridge and The Potomac Coming Through the Blue Ridge by William Roberts were sold at the Harding auction. The original purchase of these two paintings is recorded in Jefferson's ledger. A copy of the auction catalog for Jefferson's first auction in 1828 is held by the New York Public Library. A copy of the catalog for the Harding auction in 1833 is held by the Alderman Library at the University of Virginia. Buyers at the Harding auction included James W. Sever; Israel Thorndike, Jr.; and Mrs. John W. Davis. File:Jesus in Praetorium afterMalbodius ThomasJeffersonFoundation.jpg, Jesus in the Praetorium. Copy after 1527 original by Jan Gossaert. File:DescentFromCross byFransFloris ThomasJeffersonFoundation.jpg, Descent from the Cross, 16th century, by Frans Floris. File:1788 JohnAdams byMatherBrown.jpg, John Adams, , by Mather Brown. File:Surrender of Lord Cornwallis.jpg, Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, 1817, by John Trumbull.

Exhibitions

Washington Allston

"In 1839 there was an exhibition ... of such works of

Washington Allston Washington Allston (November 5, 1779 – July 9, 1843) was an American painter and poet, born in Waccamaw Parish, South Carolina. Allston pioneered America's Romantic movement of landscape painting. He was well known during his lifetime for ...

as could be borrowed for the occasion. This was managed by the friends of the artist for his benefit. The exhibition was held in Harding's Gallery, a square, well-lighted room, but too small for the larger pictures. It was, however, the best room that could be procured for the purpose. Here was shown forty-five pictures, including one or two drawings. ... On entering, the presence of the artist seemed to fill the room. The door-keeper held the door, but Allston held the room." Works included: "Dead man restored to life" (1813); "The Valentine;" "Isaac of York;" "Portrait of Benjamin West, late president of the Royal Academy, London;" "Portrait of Samuel Williams;" "Rosalie;" "Jessica and Lorenzo;" "Portrait of the late Mrs. Wm. Channing;" and others. Lenders to the exhibit included David Sears; James F. Baldwin;

George Ticknor George Ticknor (August 1, 1791 – January 26, 1871) was an American academician and Hispanist, specializing in the subject areas of languages and literature. He is known for his scholarly work on the history and criticism of Spanish literatur ...

; Warren Dutton;

Nathan Appleton Nathan Appleton (October 6, 1779July 14, 1861) was an American merchant and politician and a member of the group of entrepreneurs known as "The Boston Associates". Early life Appleton was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, New Ipswich, New Ham ...

;

Thomas Handasyd Perkins Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, also known as T. H. Perkins (December 15, 1764 – January 11, 1854), was an American merchant, slave trader, smuggler and philanthropist from a wealthy Boston Brahmin family. Starting with bequests from his grand ...

; Thomas H. Perkins Jr.; William H. Sumner; and others. File:1811 PoorAuthor RichBookseller byWashingtonAllston MFABoston.jpeg, The Poor Author and the Rich Bookseller, by Allston, 1811 File:1815 DonnaMencia byWashingtonAllston MFABoston.jpeg, Donna Mencia in the Robber's Cavern, by Allston, 1815 File:Sisters ca1817 byWashingtonAllston Harvard.jpeg, The Sisters, by Allston, c. 1817 File:Portrait of Samuel Williams, by Washington Allston.jpg, Portrait of Samuel Williams, by Allston, c. 1817 File:Washington Allston 002.jpg, '' The Flight of Florimell'', by Allston, 1819 File:1819 Beatrice byWashingtonAllston MFABoston.jpeg, Beatrice, by Allston, 1819 File:1820 Saul Witch Endor byWashingtonAllston FiveCollegeMuseums.jpg, Saul and the Witch of Endor, by Allston, 1820

Boston Artists Association

The first public exhibit of the newly formed Boston Artists' Association in 1842 at Harding's Gallery featured works by mostly local artists, as well as a few by (or after) European masters (e.g. Tintoretto, Rembrandt). Visitors to the gallery could see recent pieces by

Fitz Henry Lane Fitz Henry Lane (born Nathaniel Rogers Lane; also formerly, mistakenly, known as Fitz Hugh Lane; December 19, 1804 – August 14, 1865) was an American painter and printmaker of a style that would later be called Luminism, for its use of pervasi ...

and

Gilbert Stuart Gilbert Stuart ( Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists. His best-k ...

. T.H. Perkins and others lent works to the exhibition. The second and third exhibits of the association took place 1843–1844.

Margaret Fuller Sarah Margaret Fuller (May 23, 1810 – July 19, 1850), sometimes referred to as Margaret Fuller Ossoli, was an American journalist, editor, critic, translator, and women's rights advocate associated with the American transcendentalism movemen ...

, on visiting Harding's on July 6, 1844, wrote in her diary: "I went to town. Artists' Gallery, sad sad sight."

Events

* 1833, July 19 – Auction of paintings from the collection of Thomas Jefferson. * 1834, May – Artist's exhibit. Included works by

Francis Alexander Francis Alexander may refer to: *Francis Alexander (painter) Francis Alexander (February 3, 1800 – March 27, 1880) was an American portrait-painter. Biography Alexander was born in Windham county Connecticut in February 1800. Brought up on ...

; Thomas Doughty;

Alvan Fisher Alvan Fisher (August 9, 1792February 13, 1863) was an American landscape and genre painter. Early years Alvan Fisher was born in Needham, Massachusetts, the fourth of Aaron and Lucy (Stedman) Fisher's six sons. He moved with members of his fam ...

; Chester Harding, Charles Hubbard.Diary of Charles Francis Adams: January 1833 – October 1834, Volume 5. Harvard University Press, 1974; p.315+ * 1834 – Marble statuary exhibit. Included works by (or after) Baelandi; Barratta; Bartolini; Bellucci; Benassae; Bombardi; Canova; Cardelli; Fidia; Orzalezi; Pampaloni; Tenerani; Thorwaldsen; Vanelli. * 1839 – Washington Allston exhibit. * 1841 – Armour and arms exhibit, from the Royal Armoury of Segovia; along with paintings. Included works by (or after)

Francisco Zurbarán Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name ''Franciscus''. Meaning of the name Francisco In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed " Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comm ...

;

Clarkson Frederick Stanfield Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (3 December 179318 May 1867) was an English painter best known for his large-scale paintings of marine art and landscapes. He was the father of the painter George Clarkson Stanfield and the composer Francis Stanfi ...

;

Edwin Henry Landseer Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) was an English painter and sculptor, well known for his paintings of animals – particularly horses, dogs, and stags. His best-known work is the lion sculptures at the base of Nelso ...

; Henritz Koekoeck; Robert Bridgehouse;

Luca Giordano Luca Giordano (18 October 1634 – 3 January 1705) was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples, Rome, Florence, and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Early l ...

;

Cornelis de Heem Cornelis is a Dutch form of the male given name Cornelius. Some common shortened versions of Cornelis in Dutch are Cees, Cor, Corné, Corneel, Crelis, Kees, Neel and Nelis. Cornelis (Kees) and Johannes (Jan) used to be the most common given na ...

; J.C. Clayton;

Caspar Netscher Caspar (or Gaspar) Netscher (1639 – January 15, 1684) was a Dutch portrait and genre painter. He was a master in depicting oriental rugs, silk and brocade and introduced an international style to the Northern Netherlands. Life According to Arn ...

. * 1841 – Modern European painting exhibit. * 1842 – 1st Boston Artists' Association exhibit. Included: Henry Sargent;

;

Tintoretto Jacopo Robusti (late September or early October 1518Bernari and de Vecchi 1970, p. 83.31 May 1594), best known as Tintoretto ( ; , ), was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school. His contemporaries both admired and criticized th ...

;

Anthony van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck (; ; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque painting, Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy. The seventh child of ...

; and others. * 1843 – 2nd Boston Artists' Association exhibit. Included:

Thomas Cole Thomas Cole (February 1, 1801 – February 11, 1848) was an English-born American artist and the founder of the Hudson River School art movement. Cole is widely regarded as the first significant American landscape painter. He was known for hi ...

; Philip Harry;

Asher Brown Durand Asher Brown Durand (August 21, 1796 – September 17, 1886) was an American engraver and painter of the Hudson River School. Early life Durand was born in, and eventually died in, Maplewood, New Jersey (then called Jefferson Village). H ...

;

Thomas Sully Thomas Sully (June 19, 1783November 5, 1872) was an English-American portrait painter. He was born in England, became a naturalized American citizen in 1809, and lived most of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including in the Thomas Sull ...

; and others. * 1844 – 3rd Boston Artists' Association exhibit * 1846 – Master paintings exhibit, from Italy; charity benefit. Included works for sale by (or copies after):

Paul Bril Paul Bril (1554 – 7 October 1626) was a Southern Netherlands, Flemish painter and printmaker principally known for his Landscape art, landscapes.Nicola Courtright. "Paul Bril." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. ...

;

Giuseppe Cesari Giuseppe Cesari (14 February 1568 – 3 July 1640) was an Italian Mannerist painter, also named Il Giuseppino and called ''Cavaliere d'Arpino'', because he was created ''Cavaliere di Cristo'' by his patron Pope Clement VIII. He was much patronize ...

;

Domenico Fiasella Domenico Fiasella (12 August 1589 – 19 October 1669) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, mainly active in Genoa. He was nicknamed Il Sarzana, after his birthplace of Sarzana nera Genoa. Biography He was the son of Giovanni Fiasella, a ...

;

Abraham Janssens Abraham Janssens I, Abraham Janssen I or Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen (1575–1632) was a Flemish Painting, painter, who is known principally for his large religious and mythological works, which show the influence of Caravaggio. He was the lead ...

;

Salvator Rosa Salvator Rosa (1615 – March 15, 1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticized landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into the ...

;

Carlo Antonio Tavella Carlo Antonio Tavella (1668–1738) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa. Biography Tavella was born in Milan, the son of Domenico Tavella, a Genoese merchant, Domenico. He was initially the pupil of the painter ...

;

Paolo Veronese Paolo Caliari (152819 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( , ; ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of religion and mythology, such as ''The Wedding at Cana (Veronese), The Wedding ...

;

Giovanni Battista Zelotti Giovanni Battista Zelotti (; 1526 – 28 August 1578) was an Italians, Italian Painting, painter of the late Renaissance, active in Venice and her mainland territories. He appears to have been born in Verona, then part of the Venetian mainla ...

Image gallery

File:1833 Harding gallery SchoolSt Boston.png, Advertisement for

Benjamin Haydon Benjamin Robert Haydon (; 26 January 178622 June 1846) was a British painter who specialised in grand historical pictures, although he also painted a few contemporary subjects and portraits. His commercial success was damaged by his often tactle ...

's "picture of Christ entering Jerusalem, which is now open for exhibition at Mr. Harding's gallery, School Street," c. 1833 File:HardingsGallery ca1825 SchoolSt Boston.png, "Exhibition extraordinary!! The unrivalled tapestries of the cartoons of Raffaelle ... Also, Rubens' large & splendid painting of the crucifixion! ... Now exhibiting at Harding's Gallery, School St., Boston," c. 1830s File:DinnerParty ca1821 byHenrySargent MFABoston.jpeg, The Dinner Party, , by Henry Sargent, displayed in the 1st Boston Artists' Association exhibit, 1842 File:AbottLawrence ca1842 byChesterHarding MFABoston.jpeg, Abbott Lawrence, , by Chester Harding, displayed in the 1st Boston Artists' Association exhibit, 1842

References

External links

{{Commons category, Harding's Gallery (Boston)
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Pre-1877 Art Exhibition Catalogue Index. Includes details of individual artworks exhibited at the gallery.
Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. Includes images and details of works auctioned at the gallery in 1833. 19th century in Boston Cultural history of Boston Defunct art museums and galleries in Boston Financial District, Boston 1833 establishments in Massachusetts 1840s disestablishments in Massachusetts 1830s in the United States 1840s in Massachusetts

History

Jefferson auction

Exhibitions

Washington Allston

Boston Artists Association

Events

Image gallery

See also

References

Further reading

Publications of the gallery

Publications about the gallery

External links