Edward Hornor Coates
Encyclopedia
Edward Hornor Coates was a Philadelphia businessman, financier, and patron of the arts and sciences. He served as Director of the Mechanics National Bank
in 1873, was chairman of the Committee on Instruction at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
from 1883 to 1890, and subsequently held the position of Academy president from 1890 to 1906. It was during his position as chairman that Mr. Coates commissioned The Swimming Hole
from Thomas Eakins
, only later to reject it. Painter John McLure Hamilton
, in a piece about Mr. Coates from Hamilton's book Men I Have Painted (1921), describes Mr. Coates' time at the Academy:
In 1890, Mr. Coates was among the signatories of the "Independent Republicans of Pennsylvania" who urged for the election of the Democratic nominee Robert E. Pattison
for Governor over the Republican nominee, George W. Delamater. A vote for Delamater, they stressed, would mean "the public indorsement" of the corrupt Matthew Stanley Quay, then junior Senator of the State of Pennsylvania. Pattison would go on to win the Governorship. In 1894, Mr. Coates joined the ranks of the "Quaker City Rebels" in the continued fight against Mr. Quay and corrupt "bossism" politics.
Mr. Coates was the son of Joseph Potts Hornor Coates and Eliza Henri Troth. He married first Ella May Potts in 1872. Ella May died on 9 March 1874 at the age of 22. Mr. Coates later wed Florence Earle Coates
in 1879, daughter of prominent Philadelphia lawyer, George H. Earle, Sr. This was also a second marriage for Florence, whose first husband—William Nicholson—died in 1877 after only five years of marriage. Mr. Coates would eventually adopt Florence's daughter from her first marriage—Alice Earle Nicholson. Florence and Edward had one child together in 1881, but the baby—Josephine Wisner Coates—died in infancy.
The Coates' resided first in a home in Germantown, Pennsylvania—"Willing Terrace"—where they lived and entertained until about 1908. One of their guests was literary and social critic Matthew Arnold
, whom they would host during his stays in Philadelphia. Mrs. Coates was both inspired and encouraged by Mr. Arnold to pursue her interest in writing poetry. This interest would eventually lead to the subsequent publishing of nearly three-hundred poems in the leading magazines of her day, as well as five volumes of collected verse. The Coates' later removed to a Victorian townhome on Spruce Street in Philadelphia where they resided for the remainder of their lives together. The Coates' often spent their summer months in the Adirondacks, where they maintained "Camp Elsinore"—their summer camp by the Upper St. Regis Lake
. It was there that they entertained, rested and escaped the humidity of Philadelphia summers. Many of Mrs. Coates' nature poems were inspired by the Adirondack vegetation.
Edward Coates died on 23 December 1921. His funeral service was held at the Coates' Spruce Street home three days later, and he was buried at the Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) churchyard in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The inscription on Mr. Coates' headstone reads, "High thought seated in a heart of courtesy"—Sir Phillip Sydney's description of an honorable man and gentleman.
In 1923, Mrs. Coates presented The Edward H. Coates Memorial Collection to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
in Philadelphia. The collection included paintings by Robert Vonnoh
(to include the portrait of Mr. Coates shown above), a portrait of Mrs. Coates painted by Violet Oakley
in 1912 entitled The Tragic Muse, and a portrait bust of Mr. Coates sculpted by Charles Grafly
. Twenty-five other paintings from various artists, as well as two other pieces of sculpture, were also included in the collection. The collection was placed on exhibit at the Academy from 4 November 1923 to 10 January 1924.
Mechanics National Bank
The Mechanics National Bank was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bank founded by and geared toward mechanics.-History:In 1809, Philadelphia was already known for both skilled workers and as America's main financial center, but the merchants who controlled its banks had little interest in lending to...
in 1873, was chairman of the Committee on Instruction at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
from 1883 to 1890, and subsequently held the position of Academy president from 1890 to 1906. It was during his position as chairman that Mr. Coates commissioned The Swimming Hole
The Swimming Hole
The Swimming Hole is an 1884–85 painting by the American artist Thomas Eakins , Goodrich catalog #190, in the collection of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. Executed in oil on canvas, it depicts six men swimming naked in a lake, and is considered a masterpiece of American painting...
from Thomas Eakins
Thomas Eakins
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator...
, only later to reject it. Painter John McLure Hamilton
John McLure Hamilton
John McLure Hamilton was an Anglo-American artist. He was born in Philadelphia and began his art education at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, under Thomas Eakins. Later he travelled to Europe and continued his education at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and at the Royal Academy in...
, in a piece about Mr. Coates from Hamilton's book Men I Have Painted (1921), describes Mr. Coates' time at the Academy:
The reign of Mr. Coates at the Academy marked the period of its greatest prosperity. Rich endowments were made to the schools, a gallery of national portraiture was formed, and some of the best examples of Gilbert Stuart's work acquired. The annual exhibitions attained a brilliancy and éclat hitherto unknown... Mr. Coates wisely established the schools upon a conservative basis, building almost unconsciously the dykes high against the oncoming flow of insane novelties in art patterns... In this last struggle against modernism the President was ably supported by Eakins, AnschutzThomas Pollock AnshutzThomas Pollock Anshutz was an American painter and teacher. Co-founder of The Darby School and leader at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Anshutz was known for his award winning portraiture work and working friendship with Thomas Eakins.-Personal life and education:Thomas Anshutz was born in...
, GraflyCharles GraflyCharles Allan Grafly, Jr. was an American sculptor and educator. He taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for 37 years.-Life and career:...
, Thouron, VonnohRobert VonnohRobert William Vonnoh was an American Impressionist painter known for his portraits and landscapes. He traveled extensively between the East Coast and France, more specifically the artists colony Grez-sur-Loing....
, and ChaseWilliam Merritt ChaseWilliam Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
... His unfailing courtesy, his disinterested thoughtfulness, his tactfulness, and his modesty endeared him to scholars and masters alike. No sacrifice of time or of means was too great, if he thought he could accomplish the end he always had in view—the honour and the glory of the Academy.
In 1890, Mr. Coates was among the signatories of the "Independent Republicans of Pennsylvania" who urged for the election of the Democratic nominee Robert E. Pattison
Robert E. Pattison
Robert Emory Pattison was the 19th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1883 to 1887 and 1891 to 1895. Born at Quantico in Somerset County, Maryland, Pattison's family moved to Philadelphia when he was five. He practiced law from 1872 to 1877 and was elected Controller of the city of Philadelphia in 1880...
for Governor over the Republican nominee, George W. Delamater. A vote for Delamater, they stressed, would mean "the public indorsement" of the corrupt Matthew Stanley Quay, then junior Senator of the State of Pennsylvania. Pattison would go on to win the Governorship. In 1894, Mr. Coates joined the ranks of the "Quaker City Rebels" in the continued fight against Mr. Quay and corrupt "bossism" politics.
Mr. Coates was the son of Joseph Potts Hornor Coates and Eliza Henri Troth. He married first Ella May Potts in 1872. Ella May died on 9 March 1874 at the age of 22. Mr. Coates later wed Florence Earle Coates
Florence Earle Coates
-Biography:She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Granddaughter of noted abolitionist and philanthropist Thomas Earle, and eldest daughter of Philadelphia lawyer George H. Earle, Sr. and Mrs. Frances Van Leer Earle, Mrs...
in 1879, daughter of prominent Philadelphia lawyer, George H. Earle, Sr. This was also a second marriage for Florence, whose first husband—William Nicholson—died in 1877 after only five years of marriage. Mr. Coates would eventually adopt Florence's daughter from her first marriage—Alice Earle Nicholson. Florence and Edward had one child together in 1881, but the baby—Josephine Wisner Coates—died in infancy.
The Coates' resided first in a home in Germantown, Pennsylvania—"Willing Terrace"—where they lived and entertained until about 1908. One of their guests was literary and social critic Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
, whom they would host during his stays in Philadelphia. Mrs. Coates was both inspired and encouraged by Mr. Arnold to pursue her interest in writing poetry. This interest would eventually lead to the subsequent publishing of nearly three-hundred poems in the leading magazines of her day, as well as five volumes of collected verse. The Coates' later removed to a Victorian townhome on Spruce Street in Philadelphia where they resided for the remainder of their lives together. The Coates' often spent their summer months in the Adirondacks, where they maintained "Camp Elsinore"—their summer camp by the Upper St. Regis Lake
Upper St. Regis Lake
Upper St. Regis Lake is a part of the St. Regis River in the Adirondacks in northern New York State. Along with Lower St. Regis Lake and Spitfire Lake, it became famous in the late 19th century as a summer playground of America's power elite, drawn to the area by its scenic beauty and by the...
. It was there that they entertained, rested and escaped the humidity of Philadelphia summers. Many of Mrs. Coates' nature poems were inspired by the Adirondack vegetation.
Edward Coates died on 23 December 1921. His funeral service was held at the Coates' Spruce Street home three days later, and he was buried at the Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) churchyard in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The inscription on Mr. Coates' headstone reads, "High thought seated in a heart of courtesy"—Sir Phillip Sydney's description of an honorable man and gentleman.
In 1923, Mrs. Coates presented The Edward H. Coates Memorial Collection to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
in Philadelphia. The collection included paintings by Robert Vonnoh
Robert Vonnoh
Robert William Vonnoh was an American Impressionist painter known for his portraits and landscapes. He traveled extensively between the East Coast and France, more specifically the artists colony Grez-sur-Loing....
(to include the portrait of Mr. Coates shown above), a portrait of Mrs. Coates painted by Violet Oakley
Violet Oakley
Violet Oakley was an American artist known for her murals and her work in stained glass. She was a student and later a faculty member at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.-Life:...
in 1912 entitled The Tragic Muse, and a portrait bust of Mr. Coates sculpted by Charles Grafly
Charles Grafly
Charles Allan Grafly, Jr. was an American sculptor and educator. He taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for 37 years.-Life and career:...
. Twenty-five other paintings from various artists, as well as two other pieces of sculpture, were also included in the collection. The collection was placed on exhibit at the Academy from 4 November 1923 to 10 January 1924.
External links
- http://mechanicsnationalbank.com/members/edward-coates/