Description:
Painting of a New England Hearth (no title), by James Wells Champney (1843-1903), New York City, NY and Deerfield, MA, ca. 1870-1880. Oil paint on board. Signed “CHAMP” in red in the lower right hand corner. Board has a label on the reverse, “PREPARED MILL-BOARD/WINSOR & NEWTON, ARTISTS’ COLOURMEN/ To Her Majesty/ and to/ T.R.H. The Prince and Princess of Wales/ 36, Rathbone Place, London, W.” A modern paper label on board reads, “74 Young Fine Arts 11/27/93/ JAMES WELLS CHAMPNEY, A.N.A./ (1843-1903), Cottage Interior, o/b, 10 x 13,/ s “CHAMP”, B1/ 500/750” The painting depicts the central hearth with a large cast iron cauldron surrounded by early American furnishings such as a settle, two slatback chairs, and various pieces of tinware and ceramics on the mantel. Champney frequently painted New England hearth scenes, often featuring the very young and the very old, forming an idealized image of American life and character. This example has no figures in it, only a solitary cat sitting on the settle. Condition: The painting is in excellent condition. There are no signs of overpainting or touch up. The gilt frame is in good condition with some minute areas of loss. It may not be original to the painting; the frame appears to be cut down. The mitered corners are not tight and may need stabilization.
Label Text:
Celebrated in Deerfield as the resident artist, James Wells Champney (1843-1903) captivated the late 19th-century American art world. Champney, sometimes known as “Champ,” was born in Boston in 1843. (He used the signature, “Champ” to distinguish himself from painter Benjamin Champney.) After serving in the Civil War, he became a pupil of the French artist, Edouard Frere in Ecouen, France, outside of Paris, and studied at the Royal Academy of Antwerp. Champney excelled in painting sentimental scenes of rural life, domestic scenes, and childhood. By 1876, James and his wife Elizabeth Williams Champney, moved into the Williams ancestral home, named Elmstead. Champney built his art studio behind the house. He also served as the first teacher of art at Smith College (1877-1884) and was pivotal to the growth of the college’s American art collection. By 1879 Champney established a studio in New York and the Deerfield house became a summer residence. This painting depicts a New England hearth, which often appeared in literature, art, and popular culture as a symbol of this region’s identity and heritage. The Colonial Revival movement inspired a variety of expressions to fulfill symbolic and functional needs during times of great change. The Colonial Revival was motivated by a range of historical events, particularly a rapidly growing industrial way of life and increasing immigration. The New England kitchen and by extension the hearth held a special place in the cultural fabric of America, evoking feelings of nostalgia and reverence for a simpler time and embodying the cherished values of family, community, and tradition.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2025.13 |
