Art and Architecture in the Colonial Period Mrs. Elizabeth Freake and Baby Mary by Unknown American Painter; Late 17th century; Corbis.com

2 Intro: Why study art/architecture of early America? Not pioneering with no “great” artists Art is useful as a mirror of (especially regional”) culture

3 What influenced art in early America? European Art – Elizabethan/Jacobean England French courtly art (especially in South) Regional cultures Map of the 13 Original American Colonies Original caption: Map of the Thirteen Original American Colonies. Undated. © Bettmann/CORBIS

4 New England: Cultural influences Art influenced by their embrace of strict Protestantism & rejection of all things Catholic Led to an emphasis on the literary over the visual in churches/homes Christopher Cormack Interior of Salisbury Cathedral, England ca Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England

5 New England: Architecture Religious: Did not want to idolize churches so built them to mimic homes Ex.: Old Ship Meeting House in Hingham, Mass. Lack of decoration Interior meant to discourage ceremony

6 New England: Architecture Domestic (Homes): Simple, often in style of English village home Ex : Parson Capen House Community built minister’s house = symbol of his power Medieval framing and design Anonymous. Parson Capen House. The Kidder Smith Images Project, MIT.

7 New England: Portraits Religious Influences: Religious art in churches seen as worshiping idols (perceived as Catholic) Portraits in homes were ok Calvinist belief that success was a sign of God’s approval for your hard work Purchase of pious art was a way to reconcile wealth with faith Raphael. Madonna of the Goldfinch Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. Summerfield Press/Corbis.

8 New England: Portraits 2. Secular Influences: 1. Elizabethan/Jacobean portraits Shallow (even though 3d art did exist) Detailed 2. Lack of trained artisans or large market for art: Limners –portraitists who had to also painted practical things like signs to support selves Queen Elizabeth I in Coronation Robes English School Painting; ca ; Bridgeman Art Library & The Gallery Collection/Corbis

9 New England: Portraits Ex 1: John & Elizabeth Freake John Extravagant clothing shows his prosperity/piety Hair length is a compromise between long (decadence/royalism) and short (lower class) ANONYMOUS ARTIST. John Freake. late 17th century. Worchester Art Museum.

10 New England: Portraits Ex 1: John & Elizabeth Freake B. Elizabeth Clothing from many parts of the world shows off wealth/success (and from Calvinist perspective, piety) Mrs. Elizabeth Freake and Baby Mary by Unknown American Painter; Late 17th century; Corbis.com

11 New England: Portraits Ex 2: Thomas Smith self portrait Intent Show religious and commercial life are compatible Shows his literacy, success, piety Thomas Smith. Self Portrait Worchester Art Museum. mith/biography/index.html

12 New England: Gravestones Only sculpture found in New England (also found elsewhere) Intent: Teach the living lessons about death and how temporary life’s achievements are Carved Colonial Gravestone. © Kevin Fleming/CORBIS. Photographer. September Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

13 New England: Gravestones Common Elements Winged skull (human mortality) Hourglasses (time) Cherubs (spiritual rebirth and everlasting life) Doorway shape (doorway into human souls) Tombstone at Copps Hill Burial Ground © Lee Snider/Photo Images/CORBIS ca Copps Hill Burial Ground, North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

14 Thinking Slide: Do not write! Discuss with your neighbor and be prepared to share with class. Were Puritan patrons of art true to their values or hypocrites?

15 Middle Colonies: Cultural Influences More diverse cultural influences, varied from place to place Many carried folk art over from their native countries (Ex. Germany) Dutch had many biblical paintings in homes

16 Southern Colonies: Cultural Influences Society based on hierarchy (who is above who) Art often meant to show the high status and class of southern elites Bacon's Rebellion. Governor Berkeley and the Insurgents. Bettmann/CORBIS Virginia, USA

17 Southern Colonies: Architecture Churches Money given to churches meant to show aristocracy of donors Ex. Robert “King” Carter’s Christchurch Had high pews so “better” families not observed/disturbed while in church Carter Pew. Christ Church Lancaster, VA. ew.html

18 Southern Colonies: Architecture Homes Patterned on English manor homes or government buildings Ex1. Bacon’s Castle in Surrey Virginia (1665) Bacon's Castle. © Lee Snider/Photo Images/CORBIS ca Surry County, Virginia, USA

19 Southern Colonies: Architecture Homes Ex2. Drayton Hall Renaissance Villa intended as a display of luxury Copying the habits of the English aristocracy Drayton Hall. © Nik Wheeler/Corbis near Charleston, South Carolina, USA

20 Southern Colonies: Portraits Meant to show wealth, status, gentility Ex1. Henry Darnell III Boy’s status as master of land and people (slaves) reinforced More wealth/status through clothing, gardens, bow & arrow Justus Englehardt Kühn. Henry Darnall III, c Maryland Historical Society. etail_ html

21 John Singleton Copley Portraits Very popular in ALL colonial regions

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renowned American portrait artist famous and “not so famous” Gilbert Stuart 23

24 Southern Colonies: Portraits 3. Ex2. Colonel Samuel and Mary Prioleau Shows not only wealth, but class (associations with French court) Compare with Freake’s (less detail, light backgrounds, use of pastels in style of French court paintings) Mary’s clothing (scandalous!) Henriette Deering Johnston, Colonel Samuel Prioleau, Mrs. Samuel Prioleau, 1715,Pastel on Paper, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

25 Thinking Slide: Do not write! Discuss with your neighbor and be prepared to share with class. Is the art of the Southern aristocracy more about their security in their social/class position or their insecurity?

26 Changes in the (near) Future 1. Architecture: New England churches have less community power as Mass. becomes a royal colony Still retain some elements, but gain steeples and towers in contradictions of old traditions Ex. Old South Meetinghouse Old South meetinghouse. ure/osmh.htm

27 Changes in the Future 2. Art: Colonies grow wealthy, leads to worldliness, demand for English culture as sign of wealth Climate becomes more liberal for displays of wealth and art becomes more naturalistic Ex. Copely’s Revere Paul Revere 1768 John Singleton Copley, American, 1738–1815. Museum of Fine Arts Boston. rds=revere+and+copley&coll_accession=&coll_name=&coll_artist=&coll_place=&c oll_medium=&coll_culture=&coll_classification=&coll_credit=&coll_provenance=&co ll_location=&coll_has_images=&coll_on_view=&coll_sort=0&coll_sort_order=0&coll _view=0&coll_package=0&coll_start=1

Originals/Individuals in Colonial America 28

29 Thinking Slide: Do not write! Discuss with your neighbor and be prepared to share with class. Does art play the same function today in our society as it did in either New England or the South?