1893

American Paintings and Sculpture


In 1892 Collis and Arabella Huntington commissioned Harry Siddons Mowbray to create nine lunette paintings as part of a large decorative scheme for their New York mansion, whose construction began in 1890. Mowbray intended the nine muses to be seen from below and thus placed them near the ceiling of the grand entrance hall. With bright tertiary colors and a matte surface, these painted canvases emulate the look and classical subject matter of Renaissance frescoes. Six of the muses are allegorical figures shown with their traditional attributes. Mowbray invented three new muses: the muse of Painting, with a palette and paintbrush; the muse of Agriculture, with a sickle; and the muse of Science and Electricity, with a light bulb.

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

39 1/2 × 78 3/4 in. (100.3 × 200 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Archer M. Huntington, M.A. (Hon.) 1897

Accession Number

1926.105

Culture
Period

19th century

Classification
Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Bibliography
  • Amy Torbert, "Fusing Past and Present: Harry Siddons Mowbray's Electricity," in "Essays in Honor of Helen A. Cooper," special issue, Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2015), 81, fig. 4
Object copyright
Additional information

Object/Work type

allegories, human figures (visual works), mythology

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