Harding's Gallery (Boston) facts for kids

Harding's Gallery was a famous art gallery in Boston, Massachusetts. It was open from about 1833 to 1847. The gallery showed many artworks by artists from both Europe and America.

The building on School Street was more than just an art gallery. It also had a newspaper office, a library called the Mercantile Library Association, and a group for artists called the Boston Artists' Association. Many artists, including the painter Chester Harding, had their studios there. The gallery was named after Chester Harding.

Self-portrait by Chester Harding, around 1843.

History of the Gallery

Paintings from Thomas Jefferson

In July 1833, a special auction happened at Harding's Gallery. They sold paintings that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson. He was one of the founding fathers of the United States and a former U.S. President.

Jefferson had bought these paintings in Paris for his home, Monticello. The auction included important artworks like a portrait of George Washington. There was also a portrait of John Adams and one of Lafayette.

The auction also offered copies of paintings by very famous European artists. These included Raphael, Rubens, and Van Dyck. Some copies showed original art from places like the Palazzo Pitti in Italy.

Two paintings by William Roberts, showing Natural Bridge and The Potomac River, were also sold. Thomas Jefferson had recorded buying these paintings. You can find copies of the auction catalogs today. One is at the New York Public Library, and another is at the University of Virginia.

Some people who bought paintings at this auction were James W. Sever and Israel Thorndike, Jr.

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  Jesus in the Praetorium. A copy of an old painting.

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  Descent from the Cross, from the 1500s.

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  John Adams, painted around 1788.

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  The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, painted in 1817.

Art Exhibitions

Washington Allston's Art Show

In 1839, Harding's Gallery held a special art show for Washington Allston. He was a well-known American painter. His friends organized this show to help him. They borrowed his artworks from different people for the event.

Harding's Gallery was a good space, with bright light. However, it was a bit small for Allston's very large paintings. Still, it was the best place they could find. The show featured 45 of Allston's paintings and drawings. Some of his famous works shown included "Dead man restored to life" and "The Valentine." Many people, like David Sears and Nathan Appleton, lent their paintings for this important exhibition.

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  The Poor Author and the Rich Bookseller, by Allston, 1811.

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  Donna Mencia in the Robber's Cavern, by Allston, 1815.

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  The Sisters, by Allston, around 1817.

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  Portrait of Samuel Williams, by Allston, around 1817.

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  Flight of Florimell, by Allston, 1819.

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  Beatrice, by Allston, 1819.

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  Saul and the Witch of Endor, by Allston, 1820.

Boston Artists' Association Shows

The Boston Artists' Association was a new group of artists. Their first public art show was in 1842 at Harding's Gallery. This exhibit mainly featured works by artists from the local area. It also included some pieces by or copied from famous European artists like Tintoretto.

Visitors could see new paintings by artists like Fitz Henry Lane and Gilbert Stuart. T.H. Perkins and others lent their artworks for this show. The association held its second and third exhibits in 1843 and 1844. A writer named Margaret Fuller visited the gallery in 1844. She wrote in her diary that it was a "sad sad sight."

Events at Harding's Gallery

• 1833, July 19 – An auction of paintings from Thomas Jefferson's collection.
• 1834, May – An art show featuring artists like Francis Alexander and Chester Harding.
• 1834 – An exhibit of marble statues. These included works by or copied from famous sculptors like Canova.
• 1839 – The special exhibition of paintings by Washington Allston.
• 1841 – An exhibit of old armor and weapons from Spain. It also included paintings by artists like Francisco Zurbarán and Edwin Henry Landseer.
• 1841 – A show featuring modern European paintings.
• 1842 – The first art show by the Boston Artists' Association. It included works by Henry Sargent and Fitz Henry Lane.
• 1843 – The second art show by the Boston Artists' Association. It featured artists like Thomas Cole and Asher Brown Durand.
• 1844 – The third art show by the Boston Artists' Association.
• 1846 – An exhibit of master paintings from Italy. This show was a charity event. It included works for sale by or copied from artists like Salvator Rosa and Paolo Veronese.

Images for kids

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  An advertisement from around 1833 for an art show at Harding's Gallery.

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  An advertisement from the 1830s for an exhibit of tapestries and a painting by Rubens.

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  The Dinner Party, painted around 1821 by Henry Sargent. It was shown in the 1842 Boston Artists' Association exhibit.

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  Abbott Lawrence, painted around 1842 by Chester Harding. It was shown in the 1842 Boston Artists' Association exhibit.