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William Rush Carving His Allegorical Figure of the Schuylkill River

Thomas Eakins

American Art

On View: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Surface Tension

This is one of several paintings in which Thomas Eakins provided an imaginary glimpse of the Philadelphia sculptor William Rush carving The Water Nymph and Bittern, which was installed in Philadelphia's Centre Square In 1809. Although Eakins's initial motives came from a desire to restore Rush's name to the history of American art, his primary focus on the back of a strongly highlighted nude model also calls into play issues about traditional methods of art instruction. Rush was a founder of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where Eakins taught for many years until 1886, when he was dismissed in a controversy about his allowing female students to attend life classes.

MEDIUM Oil on canvas
DATES 1908
DIMENSIONS 36 1/4 × 48 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (92.1 × 122.6 × 3.2 cm) frame: 45 x 57 x 3 1/2 in. (114.3 x 144.8 x 8.9 cm)  (show scale)
SIGNATURE Signed lower center on scroll: "EAKINS 1908"
COLLECTIONS American Art
ACCESSION NUMBER 39.461
CREDIT LINE Dick S. Ramsay Fund
PROVENANCE By 1916, inherited from the artist by Susan Macdowell Eakins (Mrs. Thomas Eakins); between 1916 and 1936, provenance not yet documented; before 1936, acquired by E. C. Babcock Galleries, New York, NY; 1939, purchased from E. C. Babcock Galleries by the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Surface Tension
CAPTION Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916). William Rush Carving His Allegorical Figure of the Schuylkill River, 1908. Oil on canvas, 36 1/4 × 48 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (92.1 × 122.6 × 3.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 39.461 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 39.461_PS22.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 39.461_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024
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