Archives of American Art

Charles James Madison Eaton correspondence with Hiram Powers, and a letter received from Thomas Sully

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.eatochar
Creators:
Eaton, Charles James Madison, 1808-1893
Powers, Hiram, 1805-1873
Dates:
1845-1867
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
21 Items
(on partial microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Nineteen letters from Hiram Powers in Florence to Eaton, 1845-1867, concerning: the future of the Fine Arts in America; sculpture for the Capitol building; government patronage and politics; his commissions for portrait busts and ideal figures; his biographer, C.E. Lester, whom Powers rejects as "a scroundrel capable of any amount of falsehood"; the London exhibition and the American tour of the sculpture the GREEK SLAVE; European reaction to the outcome of the American Civil War; the art community in Florence; Powers' 1846 trip to Turin and Rome; and his health, family, and personal ambitions. In closing his letters, Powers often sends regards from Miner Kellogg.
Scope and Contents
Also included is a letter from Eaton to Powers, December 5, 1864, regarding a shipment of modelling clay from Baltimore to Florence, and a letter from Thomas Sully in Philadelphia to Eaton, September 27, 1847. Eaton was disappointed to learn that a painting he had inspected was not a Sully. "I am mortified at your disappointment," Sully wrote, "...had the picture been an original by me, I should have charged double the price."

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Eaton was a founder of the Maryland Historical Society, a trustee of the Peabody Institute, and a collector of art. Eaton probably met Hiram Powers on one of his trips to Florence in the 1840's. They became lifelong friends and Eaton served as an American agent of sorts, promoting Powers' interests in Washington and Baltimore.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 3416 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel also available in the Maryland Historical Society.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming 1985 by the Maryland Historical Society.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art, Modern -- 19th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists and patrons Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Miniature painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art patrons -- Maryland Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- Italy Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kellogg, Miner K. (Miner Kilbourne), 1814-1889 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lester, C. Edwards (Charles Edwards), 1815-1890 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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