New-England Museum (Boston)
Encyclopedia
The New-England Museum (1818 - ca.1838) in Boston
, Massachusetts
was established at 76 Court Street
by Ethan A. Greenwood
, Peter B. Bazin, John Dwight and Samuel Jackson. It featured displays of fine art, natural history specimens, wax figures, and other curiosities. Bands of musicians typically performed there during public hours.
's "New York Museum" art collection, and thus established the New England Museum. Artwork acquired included Savage's own paintings—a portrait of George Washington
and his family (now in the National Gallery of Art
); portraits of Henry Knox
; portraits of Robert Morris; and Congress Voting Independence
, a painting begun by Robert Edge Pine
and completed by Savage.
Greenwood expanded the museum collections in 1821 by acquiring items from the estate of John Mix of New Haven, Connecticut. Mix's collection "consisted of wax figures as large as life, paintings, beasts, birds, fishes, serpents and reptiles, Indian and Chinese curiosities and 20,000 different species of insects preserved in glass cases. There were also 3 fine organs." In 1822 Greenwood acquired Philip Wood's Market Museum
. He also acquired William Doyle
's Columbian Museum
in 1825; and the collection of Boston's Linnaean Society
, at some point in time.
Events at the museum included:
Financial difficulties forced the museum to close in the late 1830s. Around 1839 Greenwood's "assignees conveyed the collections [of the New England Museum] to Moses Kimball
" who then founded Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts
.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
was established at 76 Court Street
Court Street (Boston, Massachusetts)
Court Street is located in the Financial District of Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to 1788, it was called Prison Lane and then Queen Street . In the 19th century it extended beyond its current length, to Bowdoin Square. In the 1960s most of Court Street was demolished to make way for the...
by Ethan A. Greenwood
Ethan Allen Greenwood
Ethan Allen Greenwood was a lawyer, portrait painter, and entrepreneurial museum proprietor in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 19th century. He established the New England Museum in 1818.-Biography:...
, Peter B. Bazin, John Dwight and Samuel Jackson. It featured displays of fine art, natural history specimens, wax figures, and other curiosities. Bands of musicians typically performed there during public hours.
History
Around 1818, Greenwood bought Edward SavageEdward Savage (artist)
Edward Savage was an American portrait painter and engraver. He was born in Princeton, Mass., and at first worked as a goldsmith, also practicing engraving. Although seemingly untrained in painting, he came into prominence in 1790 through his portrait of George Washington, intended as a gift to...
's "New York Museum" art collection, and thus established the New England Museum. Artwork acquired included Savage's own paintings—a portrait of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and his family (now in the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
); portraits of Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
; portraits of Robert Morris; and Congress Voting Independence
Congress Voting Independence
Congress Voting Independence is a painting by Robert Edge Pine showing the interior of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, and contains the portraits of most of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. The artist worked on the painting from 1784 until his death in 1788. The...
, a painting begun by Robert Edge Pine
Robert Edge Pine
Robert Edge Pine was an English portrait and historical painter, born in London. He was the son of John Pine, the engraver, and probably his pupil....
and completed by Savage.
Greenwood expanded the museum collections in 1821 by acquiring items from the estate of John Mix of New Haven, Connecticut. Mix's collection "consisted of wax figures as large as life, paintings, beasts, birds, fishes, serpents and reptiles, Indian and Chinese curiosities and 20,000 different species of insects preserved in glass cases. There were also 3 fine organs." In 1822 Greenwood acquired Philip Wood's Market Museum
Market Museum (Boston)
The Market Museum was established in 1804 by Philip Woods in Market Square, Boston, Massachusetts, adjacent to Faneuil Hall. Also called the Boston Museum, it featured displays of "wax figures, pictures, natural and fanciful curiosities -- such as have not been exhibited in this town before" and...
. He also acquired William Doyle
William M. S. Doyle
William Massey Stroud Doyle was a portrait painter and museum proprietor in Boston, Massachusetts. He oversaw the Columbian Museum on Tremont Street in the early 19th-century.As an artist, Doyle created portraits of:* John Adams* Elijah Bigelow...
's Columbian Museum
Columbian Museum
The Columbian Museum was a museum and performance space in Boston, Massachusetts, established by Daniel Bowen, and continued by William M. S. Doyle. The museum featured artworks, natural history specimens, wax figures, and other curiosities....
in 1825; and the collection of Boston's Linnaean Society
Linnaean Society of New England
Linnaean Society of New England was established in Boston, Massachusetts, to promote natural history. The society organized a natural history museum, and also arranged lectures and excursions for its members. In 1817 it became involved in the Gloucester sea serpent debate...
, at some point in time.
Events at the museum included:
- 1818
- September - "Sea serpent" caught by Capt. Rich. Also: "a large sun fish, a live alligator, two small live turtles, from the Island of AscensionAscension IslandAscension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
." - September - Anniversary of MacDonough's victoryBattle of PlattsburghThe Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812...
. - November - 16-pound, 9-year-old "wonderful dwarf."
- "Thanksgiving evening. Illumination, music, &c. ...A large apartment for wax figures will be opened this evening."
- September - "Sea serpent" caught by Capt. Rich. Also: "a large sun fish, a live alligator, two small live turtles, from the Island of Ascension
- 1819
- February - 16-pound, 10-year-old "wonderful dwarf."
- February - Washington's BirthdayWashington's BirthdayWashington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day...
commemoration. - May - "A great number of new and interesting objects by far too numerous to be mentioned in an advertisement are now brought forward and arranged in a very neat and elegant manner. A first chop dandyDandyA dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of Self...
, attired at all points in the most perfect style of modern fashion, and a beautiful modern fine lady, are just added to the wax figure apartments." - August - Signior Hellene concert. "He will play on the Italian violi -- Pandean pipesPan fluteThe pan flute or pan pipe is an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting usually of five or more pipes of gradually increasing length...
-- Chinese bells -- Turkish cymbals, and tenor drum, at the same time; and astonishing to relate, all in unison and perfect time. He will also occasionally accompany the Italian violi with his mouth, in imitation of the mocking bird."
- 1820
- December - Museum "enlarged and improved by adding to it the lofty and spacious hall (lately the Gallery of Fine Arts) 70 feet by 36, fitted up in a tasteful and elegant manner."
- December - "10 new wax figures are just added -- among them, Caroline, Queen of EnglandCaroline of BrunswickCaroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
-- Lady HamiltonEmma, Lady HamiltonEmma, Lady Hamilton is best remembered as the mistress of Lord Nelson and as the muse of George Romney. She was born Amy Lyon in Ness near Neston, Cheshire, England, the daughter of a blacksmith, Henry Lyon, who died when she was two months old...
-- Bergami."
- 1822 - "...Just added another entire museum, making now one grand consolidation of 4 museums united in one."
- 1824
- November - John Ritto PennimanJohn Ritto PennimanJohn Ritto Penniman was a painter in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He created portraits, landscapes, and allegorical paintings, as well as designs for engravings, such as the official seal of the city of Boston in 1822. He also worked as an assistant to Gilbert Stuart. Penniman died in 1841 in...
's painting The Congflagration of the Exchange Coffee House on display. - December 25 - Christmas day: "open through this day and illuminated in the evening. ....Handsomely dressed with evergreens."
- November - John Ritto Penniman
Financial difficulties forced the museum to close in the late 1830s. Around 1839 Greenwood's "assignees conveyed the collections [of the New England Museum] to Moses Kimball
Moses Kimball
Moses Kimball was a U.S. politician and showman. Kimball was a close associate of P. T. Barnum, and public-spirited citizen of Boston, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
" who then founded Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts
Boston Museum (theatre)
The Boston Museum , also called the Boston Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts, was a theatre, wax museum, natural history museum, zoo, and art museum in 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts...
.
Further reading
- Bowen's picture of Boston, or The citizen's and stranger's guide to the metropolis of Massachusetts, and its environs. Boston: A. Bowen, 1829. 3rd edition, 1838.
- Walter K. Watkins. The New England Museum and the home of art in Boston. Bostonian Society Publications. 1918.
External links
- Harvard University, Houghton Library. Watercolor of New England Museum