Gallery 22

As the nation became a democracy, Americans felt closely linked to the ancient Athenian democracy of the classical past, and a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman history flourished. This reverence for the political and philosophical tenets of Neoclassicism was seen in the fine and decorative arts. In this portrait, the sitter poses in a classical landscape with a deer, recalling the attributes of Diana, goddess of the hunt and protector of wild animals.

As the nation became a democracy, Americans felt closely linked to the ancient Athenian democracy of the classical past, and a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman history flourished. This reverence for the political and philosophical tenets of Neoclassicism was seen in the fine and decorative arts. In this portrait, the sitter poses in a classical landscape with a deer, recalling the attributes of Diana, goddess of the hunt and protector of wild animals.

In the 19th century, Americans adopted European fashions to appear cultured, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. This portrait features the sitter’s elegant coat and hat, perhaps adapted from English and French styles that were shared through prints, letters, and imported clothing. Americans who aspired to be fashionable also had to navigate the complexity of maintaining the distinct identity of their new nation.

In the 19th century, Americans adopted European fashions to appear cultured, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. This portrait features the sitter’s elegant coat and hat, perhaps adapted from English and French styles that were shared through prints, letters, and imported clothing. Americans who aspired to be fashionable also had to navigate the complexity of maintaining the distinct identity of their new nation.

A freed slave and self-taught painter working in Baltimore, Maryland, Joshua Johnson is the earliest-known African American artist. This charming image portrays the daughter of a wealthy Baltimore merchant. She holds out a biscuit to her dog, who seems transfixed by the offering. The portrait is painted in a manner that brings us down to the young girl’s level — perhaps we view her from the perspective of another child.

A freed slave and self-taught painter working in Baltimore, Maryland, Joshua Johnson is the earliest-known African American artist. This charming image portrays the daughter of a wealthy Baltimore merchant. She holds out a biscuit to her dog, who seems transfixed by the offering. The portrait is painted in a manner that brings us down to the young girl’s level — perhaps we view her from the perspective of another child.

William Ellery Channing was a Unitarian minister, author, preacher, and mystic. He is remembered for his influence on the development of American literature—a group of New England writers who flourished in the mid-19th century were associated with the Unitarian movement, including Emerson, Bryant, Longfellow, Lowell, and Holmes. Although Channing was of small physical stature, he was remembered as a preacher of extraordinary power and magnetism.

William Ellery Channing was a Unitarian minister, author, preacher, and mystic. He is remembered for his influence on the development of American literature—a group of New England writers who flourished in the mid-19th century were associated with the Unitarian movement, including Emerson, Bryant, Longfellow, Lowell, and Holmes. Although Channing was of small physical stature, he was remembered as a preacher of extraordinary power and magnetism.

This scene shows Cupid being comforted by his mother—the goddess of love, Venus—after a bee has stung his finger. West’s source for the subject was likely the 40th ode attributed to Anacreon, the ancient Greek lyric poet: “Cupid as he lay among / Roses, by a Bee was stung. / Whereupon in anger flying / To his Mother, said thus crying; / Help! O help! your Boy’s a dying. / . . . A winged Snake has bitten me, Which Country people call a Bee.”

This scene shows Cupid being comforted by his mother—the goddess of love, Venus—after a bee has stung his finger. West’s source for the subject was likely the 40th ode attributed to Anacreon, the ancient Greek lyric poet: “Cupid as he lay among / Roses, by a Bee was stung. / Whereupon in anger flying / To his Mother, said thus crying; / Help! O help! your Boy’s a dying. / . . . A winged Snake has bitten me, Which Country people call a Bee.”