Harding's Gallery () in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

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, 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 various ...

also housed a newspaper press; the Mercantile Library Association; the Boston Artists' Association; 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 (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...

in Paris, and subsequently hung about his house at

Monticello Monticello ( ) was the primary plantation of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who began designing Monticello after inheriting land from his father at age 26. Located just outside Charlottesville, V ...

. Original works for sale included a portrait of

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

by Joseph Wright/ John Trumbull (1784); a portrait of

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of t ...

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

(1788); and a portrait of

Lafayette Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to: People * Lafayette (name), a list of people with the surname Lafayette or La Fayette or the given name Lafayette * House of La Fayette, a French noble family ** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757� ...

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 sho ...

;

Holbein Hans Holbein may refer to: * Hans Holbein the Elder Hans Holbein the Elder ( , ; german: Hans Holbein der Ältere; – 1524) was a German painter. Life Holbein was born in free imperial city of Augsburg (Germany), and died in Issenheim, Alsa ...

; Godfrey Kneller (portrait of John Locke);

Leonardo Leonardo is a masculine given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese equivalent of the English, German, and Dutch name, Leonard Leonard or ''Leo'' is a common English masculine given name and a surname. The given name and surname originate ...

; Le Sueur;

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael (; or ; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition, and visual a ...

; Ribera; Rubens;

Van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck (, many variant spellings; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Brabantian Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Southern Netherlands and Italy. The seventh ...

; 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 literature. ...

; Warren Dutton; Nathan Appleton;

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 William Hyslop Sumner (July 4, 1780 – October 24, 1861) was an American lawyer, soldier, and writer, and the son of Governor Increase Sumner. He graduated from Harvard College in 1799, and practiced law. He served as a general in the Massachuse ...

; 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, 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 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 pervasive light. Biography ...

and Gilbert Stuart. 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 (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 a farm, he taught himself the use of colors, and in 1820 we ...

; Thomas Doughty;

Alvan Fisher Alvan Fisher (August 9, 1792February 13, 1863) was one of the United States's pioneers in landscape painting and genre works. Early years He was born in Needham, Massachusetts, the fourth of Aaron and Lucy (Stedman) Fisher's six sons. He mov ...

; 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''. Nicknames In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed "Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comunitatis'' (father of ...

;

Clarkson Frederick Stanfield Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (3 December 179318 May 1867) was a prominent English painter (often inaccurately credited as William Clarkson Stanfield) who was best known for his large-scale paintings of dramatic marine subjects and landscapes. ...

;

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. However, his best-known works are the lion sculptures at the bas ...

; 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 and Rome, Florence, and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Earl ...

; Cornelis de Heem; 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 Ar ...

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

;

Tintoretto Tintoretto ( , , ; born Jacopo Robusti; late September or early October 1518Bernari and de Vecchi 1970, p. 83.31 May 1594) was an Italian painter identified with the Venetian school. His contemporaries both admired and criticized the speed wit ...

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

Thomas Cole Thomas Cole 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 his romantic landscape and history painti ...

; Philip Harry;

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

;

Thomas Sully Thomas Sully (June 19, 1783November 5, 1872) was a portrait painter in the United States. Born in Great Britain, he lived most of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He painted in the style of Thomas Lawrence. His subjects included nation ...

; 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 Flemish painter and printmaker principally known for his landscapes.Nicola Courtright. "Paul Bril." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 26 September 2016 He spent most of ...

;

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. Biography He was born in c, the son of Giovanni Fiasella, a silver ...

;

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

; Salvator Rosa;

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;

Giovanni Battista Zelotti Giovanni Battista Zelotti (; 1526 – 28 August 1578) was an Italian 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 mainland, and trained wit ...

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 the United States

History

Jefferson auction

Exhibitions

Washington Allston

Boston Artists Association

Events

Image gallery

References

Further reading

Publications of the gallery

Publications about the gallery

See also

External links