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The old Fairbanks house, Dedham, mA
Childe Hassam • Painting, 1884, 56.2×55.9 cm
Description of the artwork «The old Fairbanks house, Dedham, mA»
Gassama paintings reflect his fascination with French art and at the same time, a strong national pride and his desires to write on a distinctive American theme. "Old Fairbanks house" is an early example of both aspirations.
Muted colors and the image of the rural landscape, reflect the interest in Boston artists and collectors, the circle which belonged to Hassam to the Barbizon school. For the first time Hassam acquainted with the works of French landscape painters of the Barbizon school, when an influential artist, teacher and collector William Morris Hunt presented to the American public artwork Camille Corotand Jean Francois Millet 1850-ies. Beginning in 1882, Hassam took this aesthetic and brought it to the scenery of New England.
The artist's interest in the Puritan roots and the historic buildings of New England, such as the Fairbanks house, most likely originated during his tenure as an Illustrator, where he engraved on wood a variety of architectural objects. After the civil war, the national interest in the past of the country has flourished and only intensified during the celebration of the centennial of independence in 1876. This enthusiasm gave rise to the movement for the preservation and revival of colonial architecture, especially important cultural monuments around Boston. Hassam and many of the artists of the time shared these sentiments and responded to newly emerging public interest in painting, depicting American architecture, capturing many cities in New England.
The Fairbanks house located in Dedham, Massachusetts, built between 1637 and 1641 by Jonathan Fairbanks, whose descendants continued to live there until the twentieth century. It is the oldest surviving wooden frame-houses in North America that has been proven dendrochronological testing. The house was declared a National historic landmark in 1960 and listed on the national register of historic places.
Author: Oleg Vybivaet
Muted colors and the image of the rural landscape, reflect the interest in Boston artists and collectors, the circle which belonged to Hassam to the Barbizon school. For the first time Hassam acquainted with the works of French landscape painters of the Barbizon school, when an influential artist, teacher and collector William Morris Hunt presented to the American public artwork Camille Corotand Jean Francois Millet 1850-ies. Beginning in 1882, Hassam took this aesthetic and brought it to the scenery of New England.
The artist's interest in the Puritan roots and the historic buildings of New England, such as the Fairbanks house, most likely originated during his tenure as an Illustrator, where he engraved on wood a variety of architectural objects. After the civil war, the national interest in the past of the country has flourished and only intensified during the celebration of the centennial of independence in 1876. This enthusiasm gave rise to the movement for the preservation and revival of colonial architecture, especially important cultural monuments around Boston. Hassam and many of the artists of the time shared these sentiments and responded to newly emerging public interest in painting, depicting American architecture, capturing many cities in New England.
The Fairbanks house located in Dedham, Massachusetts, built between 1637 and 1641 by Jonathan Fairbanks, whose descendants continued to live there until the twentieth century. It is the oldest surviving wooden frame-houses in North America that has been proven dendrochronological testing. The house was declared a National historic landmark in 1960 and listed on the national register of historic places.
Author: Oleg Vybivaet
