PROSPECTUS, FOR A NATIONAL GALLERY OF PAINTINGS. [with:] [AUTOGRAPH LETTER, UNSIGNED, FROM SOUTHERN ARTIST GEORGE E. COOKE REGARDING HIS PLAN TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL GALLERY IN NEW ORLEANS]

Cooke, George E.

Published by New Orleans, 1844

[1]p. printed prospectus, plus [2]pp. autograph letter, signed, written on recto and verso of prospectus, letter dated at May 28, 1844 at Athens, Georgia. Old folds, slight separations at edges and corners of folds (no loss of text). Uneven tanning. About very good overall. A detailed and friendly unsigned letter from artist George E. Cooke to "My dear English," written on an otherwise unrecorded prospectus for Cooke's "National Gallery" in New Orleans. Cooke's project was an early and ambitious attempt at establishing a gallery of art for the American people, but was short- lived. Cooke himself was a significant figure in the 19th-century American art world, having studied with and assisted painter Charles Bird King. Writing on his way south via steamboat, Cooke begins with a glowing report on the status of his project: "Of its success I have the most incouraging assurances from many of the most respectable citizens to whom I was introduced - 200 of whom have already subscribed - unsolicited, and several editors of the most influential journals have tendered me their hearty support. An architect is engaged to prepare a house and I have deposited the funds with a friend to meet the expenditures." The project itself was to establish a permanent gallery of paintings, open December through June of each year. As Cook explains in the printed prospectus: "It will consist of the works of native or foreign artists, of ancient or modern paintings, originals and copies [likely by Cooke himself] of the celebrated works in Europe." Cooke promises "a succession of new and interesting works from the pencils of our most eminent artists.[to] not only improve the public taste, but enrich the collections of amateurs; as the object is to dispose of paintings exhibited, that others may supply their place and furnish a pleasing variety." Cooke estimates annual expenses at $2000, to be paid via subscribers; subscriptions are set at "$5 for a gentleman and his family, or $2 50 for a single person.Thus two hundred families and twice as many individuals will be furnished with a delightful place of resort for amusement and instruction, and where their children may cultivate a taste for the fine arts, at a trivial expense." The rest of the autograph letter features Cooke relating his travels from Pittsburgh. Their first stop was Cincinnati, which Cooke found repulsive: "We arrived at Cincinnati on New Years day and found the Queen City reeking in blood and grease from hecatombs of slain hogs, with a taste for the fine arts as refined as their occupation - and the keeper of my paintings, who had preceeded me, having abandoned this place after one day's exhibition, and proceeded to Louisville. We followed him after four days survey of its unpolished society, where carriages are almost as scarce as at Venice and where the ton trudge to evening revels, illumined by a farthing lamp they carry in their hands. Wealth or money is the God of their idolatry, but comfort or elegance they know nothing of. We found things much better at Louisville and in the circle of many polite acquaintances there." Unfortunately, the rainy weather brought ill health for Cooke's wife, Maria, so they moved on to Paducah, Memphis, and finally New Orleans, which proved much more conducive to her health. Cooke also includes an in-depth description of the steamship, or "floating palace," they took on their trip: "her length was 275 feet her cabin 175, carpeted with brussels, hung with glass chandeliers, and ornamented with mirrors, she was 85 feet in height from keel; bedrooms 8 by 10 and her cargo 1300 ton, besides a barge in tow carrying 500 tons more - her freight was worth $8000 and her time in descending from St. Louis was 7 days - without the barge, it would have been five - such was the steamer Maria." George E. Cooke (1793-1849) was an itinerant portrait painter, and was one of the best- known Southern painters of the 19th century. He studied with Charles Bird King in Washingto. Seller Inventory # WRCAM57423

Bibliographic Details

Title: PROSPECTUS, FOR A NATIONAL GALLERY OF ...
Publisher: New Orleans
Publication Date: 1844