National Anthropological Archives

Guide to MS 2011-19 William Henry Holmes watercolors of Italian daily life, circa 1880

Summary

Collection ID:
NAA.MS2011-19
Creators:
Holmes, William Henry, 1846-1933
Dates:
circa 1880
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Paintings (visual works)
watercolor
Repository:
Container:
2011-19

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of three (3) small watercolor paintings by William Henry Holmes depicting women sewing and a man mending sails. All three paintings were signed to "Clara Saunders" with holiday greetings from Holmes.
Item 2011-19.1 depicts two women sewing on the banks of the Tiber River.
Item 2011-19.2 ("Bead stringer, Venice") shows a woman sitting in a chair beading.
Item 2011-19.3 ("Venice - mending sails") shows a man mending sails.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) was an artist, geologist, and archaeologist who spent most of his career with the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, United States Geological Survey, Bureau of American Ethnology (BAE), and Department of Anthropology of the Smithsonian. From 1894-1897, he was the head of anthropology at the Field Columbian Museum (Field Museum of Natural History) and on the staff of the University of Chicago. He later served as head curator for the US National Museum Department of Anthropology from 1897-1902 and head of the BAE from 1902-1909.

Administration

Custodial History
The paintings were donated to the National Anthropological Archives by Lola Vearl Ferdon in July 2011. They were acquired by her husband, Edwin Ferdon, from Edgar Lee Hewett.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
MS 2011-19 William Henry Holmes watercolors of Italian daily life, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
Correspondence by Holmes can be found throughout the National Anthropological Archives in MS 7206, the records of the Bureau of American Ethnology, and the records of the Department of Anthropology.
Manuscripts, notes, and artwork by Holmes can be found throughout the National Anthropological Archives in MS 4698, MS 2125, MS 7112, MS 7570, MS 87825 and others.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives holds the William Henry Holmes Papers, 1870-1931 (SIA RU007084).

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
NAA MS 2011-19

Exhibition Note

Exhibition Note
Two of the paintings were exhibited in Sargent, Whistler, and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, October 8, 2021 – May 8, 2022.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Works of art Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Paintings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Watercolors Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Italy Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Europe Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Anthropological Archives
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