Creation
A new venue and a new name—the American Art-Union—set itself to a double task within its Charter, dated May 7, 1840. The first was a moral task of developing the taste of the middling classes towards (what was in the AAU's estimation) the best kind of American art and its themes. The second, was to provide a venue for the exhibition and sale of art from contemporary and emerging American artists within its “Perpetual Free Gallery” (free to members, nominal charge to non-members).
The AA-U's management were among the wealthiest,(six of the ten most wealthy in the city), conservative and well connected men in New York City. They were mostly first, (at most second) generation wealth and had close ties in business, political and social endeavors. There were only five presidents in the thirteen years and of the 211 possible choices of individuals for office, the duties were performed by eighty-two. The following men were elected:
The Committee of Management in 1839
- John W. Francis, M.D., President
- Philip Hone, (banker, politician, etc.)
- J. Watson Webb (newspaper editor)
- John P. Ridner (mahogany merchant)
- John L. Morton (merchant?)
- Augustus Greele (paper merchant)
- James W. Gerard (lawyer, philannthropist)
- William L. Morris (lawyer)
- William Kemble (merchant)
- T. N. Campbell (broker)
- Aaron R. Thompson (merchant)
- George Bruce (typefounder)
- Duncan C. Pell (auctioneer)
- Eleazar Parmly (dentist)
- F. W. Edmonds (Cashier of the L. M. Bank), Treasurer
- Benjamin Nathan (broker), Recording Secretary
- James Herring (gallery proprietor), Corresponding Secretary
From a patriarchal position, the Committee deemed itself best able to choose both the artists, select the art work that would be chosen as part of the AA-U's permanent collection and choose the pieces or pieces to be engraved and published. Further, as “merchant amateurs” they would be the best suited to manage and the Art-Union, “just like a good merchant”. Their goal, pointedly was “to establish a National School of Art,” one which was originally American—illustrative of American scenery and American manners”.
The Artists (in part): George Caleb Bingham Thomas Cole Jasper Francis Cropsey Francis D’Avignon Thomas Doney Asher Brown Durand Daniel Huntington John Frederick Kensett Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze William Sidney Mount James Smillie
Although there would be other art-unions in the US, “none would achieve the popularity or influence of the American Art-Union. The art-union concept fell out of favor however, it is curious, the number of reasons that have been attributed to the AAU's demise. The lottery and other managerial weaknesses, competition and pride have all been blamed.
Read more about this topic: American Art-Union
Famous quotes containing the word creation:
“Like witches they flew along rows
Keeping creation at ease;
With a tendril for needle
They sewed up the air with a stem;”
—Theodore Roethke (1908–1963)
“There have been heroes for whom this world seemed expressly prepared, as if creation had at last succeeded; whose daily life was the stuff of which our dreams are made, and whose presence enhanced the beauty and ampleness of Nature herself.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“As the truest society approaches always nearer to solitude, so the most excellent speech finally falls into Silence. Silence is audible to all men, at all times, and in all places. She is when we hear inwardly, sound when we hear outwardly. Creation has not displaced her, but is her visible framework and foil. All sounds are her servants, and purveyors, proclaiming not only that their mistress is, but is a rare mistress, and earnestly to be sought after.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)