Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Montgomery County Almshouse, 1874 |
Place of Origin |
Pennsylvania, Montgomery County |
Artist or Maker |
Hofmann, Charles C. (1821-1882) |
Date |
1874 |
Materials |
Oil on Canvas |
Dimension Details |
Canvas Height: 32 1/2" Width: 44 3/4" Within Frame Liner Height: 33 1/4" Width: 45 1/4" Framed Height: 39 3/8" Width: 51 3/8" |
Description |
"Montgomery County Almshouse, 1874" by Charles C. Hofmann (1821-1882) depicts a high eye-level view of the Almshouse, a large brick building upon a hilltop. The primary structure is surrounded by smaller white buildings along yellow-toned earthen roads; a horse-drawn wagon with a large load is headed toward the Almshouse. The lower half of the painting is dominated by sloping, fenced fields and a body of water. A team of mules on the water bank are pulling a barge capped with an American flag flying at what appears to be half mast. The barge's stern is inscribed with "Ali Gator | Rea ding PA." Another boat to the right, occupied by a woman with a pipe, is inscribed "for Chester C. Market." In the foreground, on the opposite shore, two seated men with a dog are fishing and a third standing figure is reaching into a barrel. Beneath the reflection of the almshouse in the water is the inscription: "Montgomery County Alms House. Penna. | (Taken from the South West side, March 2nd, 1874.) | Wm. H. Destere. G.D. Fronfield, Steward. | J. W. Wisler, second Steward | Directors: H. H. Bertolet | Martin Ruth | Clerk: I. U. Cassel. Jrs. R. Grigg, M. D. Physician." One of three artists called "Almshouse Painters," Charles Hofmann created detailed views of these types of Pennsylvania institutions built to house the poor and infirm. Born in Germany and emigrating to the United States in 1860, Hofmann himself was a frequent almshouse resident. |
Provenance |
Jacob W. Wisler, second Steward of the Almshouse, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Katherine Longstreth Stearley, relative of J.W. Wisler,Trappe, Pennsylvania Historical Society of Montgomery County Gerald Kornblau, American Folk Art, New York, New York Sold to The Dietrich American Foundation, 1972 |
Object Name |
Painting |
Object ID |
6.4.1023 |
Search Terms |
paintings |