American Neoclassicism (Week 6)

Question 1

Answer 1

John Vanderlyn, Death of Jane McCrae, 1804

commissioned

classical take on contemporary subject

white vs. other

Question 2

Answer 2

John Vanderlyn, Ariadne Asleep on the Island of Naxos, 1814

earliest depiction of nudity in America

controversial

acceptable because Greek mythology

better received in France

Question 3

Answer 3

Rembrandt Peale, The Court of Death, 1820

Question 4

Answer 4

Patience Lovell Wright, Benjamin Franklin, 1775, wax

first named sculptor in the US

spy for Ben Frankling during the Revolution

Question 5

Answer 5

William Rush, Self Portrait, 1822

Question 6

Answer 6

William Rush, Eagle, 1809-11

Question 7

Answer 7

William Rush, Dr. Benjamin Rush, 1812

few physicians to remain in Philadelphia during yellow fevor

plaster

Question 8

Answer 8

William Rush, Nymph and Bittern, 1854 bronze after wooden original in 1812

fountain in center square

depicted in John Lewis Krimmel painting

Question 9

Answer 9

William Rush, Andrew Jackson, 1819, painted terra cotta

Question 10

Answer 10

William Rush, The Schuylkill Freed, 1828

wood

hard to sculpt convincing water

provided fresh water to Philadelphia

Question 11

Answer 11

Jean Antoine Houdon, George Washington, 1788 - 1792

iconic image of Washington

french sculptor bc no American sculptors at the time

Question 12

Answer 12

Jean Antoine Houdon, George Washington, 1785-89

more neoclassical

Question 13

Answer 13

Giuseppe Ceracchi, George Washington, 1794-5

only one to sit with Washington in his Philadelphia home

tried to get Capitol commission

Question 14

Answer 14

Horatio Greenough, Medora, 1832

Question 15

Answer 15

Horatio Greenough, George Washington, 1832-40

attempt to elevate Washington to god-like status

Zeus

represents power

too removed from American audience

Question 16

Answer 16

Horatio Greenough, The Rescue, East side of the US Capitol, 1837-51

Jackson rationalized removal of Indians

saving from attacking indians

taken down

Question 17

Answer 17

Hiram Powers, Horatio Greenough, 1838

Question 18

Answer 18

Hiram Powers, Greek Slave, 1841-43

Christian girl caputred by Muslims/Ottoman Turks

faith in God gives her strength

nudity acceptable because ancient Greek story

demure, trying to cover herself

cultural phenomenon

Question 19

Answer 19

Hiram Powers, California, 1850-55, carved 1858

inspired by California gold rush

not commissioned

branch of thorns - not all that glitters is gold

rod pointing to earth

crystal quarts

Question 20

Answer 20

Thomas Crawford, Orpheus and Cerberus, 1843

turning point in his career

studied in Rome - classical sculpture

greek mythology

success in Boston

Question 21

Answer 21

Thomas Crawford, The Progress of Civilization, 1851-63, Senate Pediment, Uniuted States Capitol, Washington, DC

won commission

neoclassical

central figure of America - eagle

manifest destiny

Question 22

Answer 22

Erastus Dow Palmer, Indian Girl or the Dawn of Christianity, 1853-56

classical, no resemblance to Indian woman

nude ok - classical, religious elements

staring at cross, conversion to Christianity

Question 23

Answer 23

Erastus Dow Palmer, The White Captive, 1857

captured by Native Americans

remains strong due to faith

no overt signs of Christianity - assume bc young, white

very strong, staring captor in eyes

doesnt try to hide her nudity

Question 24

Answer 24

Harriet Hosmer, Puck, 1856

Question 25

John Vanderlyn

Answer 25

(1775 - 1852)

1796 went to Paris instead of England to study

Returned to the US in 1815

Question 26

William Rush

Answer 26

Born in Philadelphia (1776 - 1833)

originally a ship carver, favorite medium was wood

one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Academy

Question 27

Horatio Greenough

Answer 27

Born in 1805 Boston

Almost entire career spent in foreign countries

Florence

Question 28

Hiram Powers

Answer 28

1820s patron sent him abroad to train

Settled in Florence by 1837 never returned to US