Art and American Identity: 1670 - 1789

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Art and American Identity: 1670 - 1789

An Online Professional Development Seminar

Maurie McInnis

Associate Professor of American Art andMaterial Culture

Director of American Studies

University of Virginia

americainclass.org 2

GOALS

To understand how different cultures came together, first as colonies then as an independent nation, to form a new identity that was distinctly American

To learn how to ask questions of art



FROM THE FORUMChallenges, Issues, Questions

In 1690, to what extent were the arts and material culture of the British Atlantic colonies “American”? To what extent were they “American” by 1789?

What major factors defined the evolution in American arts and material culture in this period?

To what extent did this evolution reflect the changing self-image of Americans?

How do issues of gender shape national identity?

Challenge: I don’t feel comfortable using art in my classes because I don’t have the training to critique it.



Maurie McInnis

Professor of American Art and Material Culture

Associate DeanCollege of Arts and Sciences

University of Virginia

In Pursuit of Refinement: Charlestonians Abroad, 1740-1860

(1999)

The Politics of Taste in Antebellum Charleston (2005)

Slaves Waiting for Sale:Visualizing the Southern Slave Trade

(2011)


Discussion Questions

How does the William Byrd of the image compare to the William Byrd of his diary?

How should we read and teach our students to read primary sources like diaries?


William Byrd IIoil on canvas, c. 1724

Attributed to Hans Hysing



Frere Luc: France Bringing the Faith to the Indians of New France, ca. 1675



Tishcohan, oil and canvas, 1735Gustavus Hesselius

Lopowinso, oil on canvas, 1735Gustavus Hesselius

Discussion QuestionHow do Euro-American artists choose to represent Native Americans?



Charles Calvert and His Slaveoil on canvas, 1761

John Hesselius

Discussion Questions

What does this portrait say about the individuals portrayed?

How can we use images such as these to teach about colonial life?

What limitations might there be?



John Rose,The Old Plantation, before 1795

Discussion QuestionsHow does the representation of African American slaves differ in this image?What can we learn from this image?



Discussion QuestionWhat is the Consumer Revolution?

On Acquiring a China Bowl & Silver Spoon, ca. 1730 as described in his autobiography (written 1771, 1784-85, 1788)

We have an English Proverb that says “He that would thrive / Must ask his Wife”; it was lucky for me that I had one as much dispos’d to Industry and Frugality as my self. She assisted me cheerfully in my Business, folding and stitching Pamphlets, tending Shop, purchasing old Linen Rags for the Paper-makers, &c. &c [etc.]. We kept no idle Servants, our Table was plain and simple, our Furniture of the cheapest. For instance my Breakfast was a long time Bread and Milk (no Tea), and I ate it out of a twopenny earthen Porringer with a Pewter Spoon.

But mark how Luxury will enter Families, and make a Progress in Spite of Principle. Being call’d one Morning to Breakfast, I found it in a China Bowl with a Spoon of Silver. They had been bought for me without my Knowledge by my Wife, and had cost her the enormous Sum of three and twenty Shillings, for which she had no other Excuse or Apology to make but that she thought her Husband deserv’d a Silver Spoon and China Bowl as well as any of his Neighbours. This was the first Appearance of Plate and China in our House, which afterwards in a Course of Years as our Wealth increas’d augmented gradually to several Hundred Pounds in Value.



On Accumulating Luxuries Too Soon, 1732 Franklin, writing as “Anthony Afterwit,” The Pennsylvania Gazette,

. . . I soon saw that with Care and Industry we might live tolerably easy, and in Credit with our Neigh-bours: But my Wife had a strong Inclination to be a Gentlewoman. In Consequence of this, my old-fashioned Looking-Glass [mirror] was one Day broke, as she said, No Mortal could tell which way. However, since we could not be without a Glass in the Room, My Dear, says she, we may as well buy a large fashionable One that Mr. Such-a-one has to sell; it will cost but little more than a common Glass, and will be much handsomer and more creditable. Accordingly the Glass was bought, and hung against the Wall: But in a Week’s time, I was made sensible by little and little, that the Table was by no Means suitable to such a Glass. And a more proper Table being procur’d, my Spouse, who was an excellent Contriver, inform’d me where we might have very handsome Chairs in the Way; And thus, by Degrees, I found all my old Furniture stow’d up into the Garret, and every thing below alter’d for the better.



On Accumulating Luxuries Too Soon, 1732 (Cont’d)

Had we stopp’d here, we might have done well enough; but my Wife being entertain’d with Tea by the Good Women she visited, we could do no less than the like when they visited us; and so we got a Tea-Table with all its Appurtenances of China and Silver. Then my Spouse unfortunately overwork’d herself in washing the House, so that we could do no longer without a Maid. Besides this, it happened frequently, that when I came home at One, the Dinner was but just put in the Pot; for, My Dear thought really it had been but Eleven: At other Times when I came at the same Hour, She wondered I would stay so long, for Dinner was ready and had waited for me these two Hours. These Irregularities, occasioned by mistaking the Time, convinced me, that it was absolutely necessary to buy a Clock; which my Spouse observ’d, was a great Ornament to the Room! And lastly, to my Grief, she was frequently troubled with some Ailment or other, and nothing did her so much Good as Riding; And these Hackney Horses were such wretched ugly Creatures, that — I bought a very fine pacing Mare, which cost £20 [English pounds, sterling]. And hereabouts Affairs have stood for some Months past.



Teapot, 1700–1715Jacob Boelen (American, ca. 1657–1729/30)Silver; Overall: 6 7/16 x 10 3/8 x 5 3/16 in., 713.3 grams (16.4 x 26.4 x 13.2 cm, 22.933 troy ounces); Diam. of foot: 3 11/16 in. (9.4 cm)Gift of Mrs. Lloyd K. Garrison, in memory of her father, Pierre Jay, 1961 (61.246a,b)

Discussion Question

What is the importance of stuff?



Covered punchbowl with platter, ca. 1745Chinese for the Swedish marketHard paste; Punchbowl: H. with cover 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm); Platter: Diam. 21 3/4 in. (55.2 cm)Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1940 (40.133.1a,b–.2)

Discussion Question

What can a punch bowl teach us about global markets and social traditions?



Elizabeth Harrison Randolph (Mrs. Peyton Randolph) oil on canvas, c. 1755John Wollaston

Discussion Question

How can we use portraits to talk about the lives of women?



Elizabeth Randolph, oil on canvas, c. 1755John Wollaston

Discussion Question

How can we use portraits of children to connect children with the past?



Bureau table, ca. 1765Attributed to John Townsend (American, 1733–1809)Newport, Rhode IslandMahogany, chestnut, tulip poplar, white pine;

Discussion Question

What can furniture tell us about the past?



Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam, oil on bed ticking, ca. 1752-1758, John Greenwood

Discussion QuestionWhat does this image tell us about life in the 18th century?



“No Stamp Act,” teapot, ca. 1765 Discussion QuestionWhat role did objects play in defining American identity?

“The Repeal, or the Funeral of Miss Ame-Stamp,” ca. 1765



“The Repeal, or the Funeral of Miss Ame-Stamp,” ca. 1765.




Last Shot

Have we answered your questions?



Use The Forum

To continue the discussion.

To share fresh approaches and discussion questions that work.

We will monitor the forum until December 20.




Next seminar:

“Winslow Homer’s Civil War Art”

7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EST

Tuesday, December 4

Kirk Savage

University of Pittsburgh


Thank you.Please submit your evaluations.


Documents

Art and American Identity: 1670 - 1789