Art Collection

Hiram, Maine is situated about 35 miles north-west of Portland, and was first settled in the late 1700s. The town was incorporated in 1814 and the name was inspired by the biblical King Hiram of Tyre. Although heavily agricultural, Hiram’s main industry was manufacturing timber, and its location near the Saco River supplied water power for the grist mills, sawmills, and planing mills that comprised the backbone of the town’s economy. It is unclear which kind of mill is depicted in this painting, but the logs in the river are a clear nod to the local timber industry. Hiram is also notable as the part-time residence of a young Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who spent his summers at the home of his grandfather, General Peleg Wadsworth, a Revolutionary War hero and one of the founders of the town.

Frank H. Shapleigh (1842-1906) was born in Boston and studied painting at the Lowell Institute of Drawing. He then spent three years in Paris, working and studying in the studio of Emile Lambinet (1815-1877). Upon his return in the late 1860s, he established a studio in Boston, which he maintained even when working elsewhere. Shapleigh spent sixteen years as the artist-in-residence at the Crawford House in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire and built a summer home in nearby Jackson. After 1886, he also spent winters in St. Augustine, Florida and was artist-in-residence at the Ponce de Leon Hotel there for several years. He is best known for his paintings of the White Mountains, capturing their sweeping views and iconic landmarks, such as Mt. Washington, as well as less-heralded parts of the landscape. 

Paul Revere was an American goldsmith, engraver and patriot in the American Revolution. He is best known for alerting the Colonial militia to the approach of British forces before the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” But prior to his famous ride, Revere was already a prominent citizen of Boston. Trained as a goldsmith – a term that in the 18th century meant someone who was trained to work with all types of precious of metals – he had to take over the family business at 19 when his father died suddenly, making bowls, silver tea sets, flatware and other utensils. In order to supplement his income, he also created engravings, such as cartoons and bookplates, and dabbled in dentistry. Revere was always involved in public life, both as a member of the militia and through his membership in the Freemasons and the Sons of Liberty. His involvement grew over time, as he participated in the Boston Tea Party, spied on British soldiers and played a critical role in the start of the American Revolution. Although he served briefly in the militia, his talents were better suited to commerce. Revere became an industrialist, operating a hardware store and a foundry, as well as opening a copper-rolling mill that supplied to the navy. He also continued to play a part in public life, and was known for his charitable contributions, which included serving as the first president of the Boston Board of Health. This portrait, done in 1883, is a copy of Gilbert Stuart’s (1755-1828) 1813 original, which hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and depicts Revere near the end of his life.

Jane E. Bartlett (1839-1923) was born in Harmony, Maine and was a student of famous late-nineteenth century portraitist William Morris Hunt. Her work demonstrates a similar spontaneity, simplicity and respect for the subject as that of her teacher. Although little is known about Bartlett’s life, she is thought to have mainly lived and worked in Boston. In 1907, she was commissioned by the Kansas State Agricultural College to paint portraits of its college presidents. Bartlett was also part of the growing trend in the 1800s of women artists gaining notice by participating in leading exhibitions – she showed two paintings at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 and placed three portraits in a loan exhibition held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1880. 

George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and served two terms as the first president of the United States. Born in Virginia, he worked as a surveyor and fought in the French and Indian War (1754-63), but his real passion was his estate, Mount Vernon, an 8,000 acre property where he grew crops such as wheat and corn and experimented with methods of land conservation. Washington served as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774, and was made commander in chief of the Continental Army a year later. His leadership kept the colonial army unified during the eight-year struggle, and as a result, he was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789. On November 5 of that same year, President Washington visited Lexington and dined at the Munroe Tavern. After two terms, he retired to Mount Vernon in 1797, where he died only two years later. This painting is a copy of Gilbert Stuart’s iconic original portrait, which depicts Washington turned slightly to the left with a wide jaw – in part due to his new set of false teeth – and serious, yet forceful appearance. Stuart conducted three live sittings with Washington, which he then used as the basis for about one hundred portraits of the president; this particular pose – known as ‘The Athenaeum’ after the Boston library that purchased the original – was the most widely reproduced. 

William Dawes, a Boston native, is best known for his role in the famous ‘Midnight Ride’ of April 18, 1775. He worked as a tanner, which allowed him relative freedom of travel on and off the isthmus of Boston, and was active in the local militia. As a result of his familiarity to the British troops guarding the city, he was chosen along with Paul Revere and Dr. Samuel Prescott to ride into the countryside to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams about the planned British advance on Lexington and Concord. Dawes was assigned the more dangerous land route – which meant passing through the British checkpoint at Boston Neck, then the narrowest point on the isthmus – and rode west, arriving in Lexington at 12:30am. After warning Hancock and Adams of the approaching army, Revere, Prescott and Dawes mounted their horses again and set off for Concord, but encountered a British patrol before reaching their destination. While Revere was captured, both Prescott and Dawes escaped, but Dawes lost his horse and was forced to walk back to Lexington. He later began a provisioning business and worked as a commissary providing supplies to the Continental Army, but soon faded into obscurity. In recent years, his role has been overshadowed due to the acclaim given to Paul Revere by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow’s famous poem ‘The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.’

Daniel J. Strain (1847-1925) was born in Littleton, New Hampshire and worked in Portland, Maine and Boston, where he was known for his portrait heads of children. He then spent five years studying painting in Paris during the late 1870s, where he exhibited in the Paris Salon three years in a row. Upon his return to Boston in 1883, Strain set up a studio and quickly re-established himself as a portrait painter of notable local figures, although he was also equally adept at various genre scenes. This painting was copied from the original by the American painter John Johnston (1753-1818), who was also a talented portraitist.