marion in the golden age: the exhibit

27

Upload: sippicanhistorical

Post on 21-Dec-2014

519 views

Category:

Education


0 download

DESCRIPTION

This exhibit chronicles a period during the late 19th and early 20th century when, as Judith Rosbe’s book Marion in the Golden Age explains, “Marion became a treasured sanctuary from city life. Teeming with prosperity and the blossoming arts, this hamlet offered a setting so breathtaking that it inspired some of the world’s foremost creative minds . . . prominent artists, architects, writers and celebrities flocked to Marion.” Mark Twain, Henry James, President Grover Cleveland and Ethel Barrymore were but a few of the famous faces that graced Marion’s shores.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit
Page 2: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit
Page 3: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

MARION IN THE GOLDEN AGE: THE EXHIBIT

Page 4: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

“In the late nineteenth century, America’s new railroads flooded Marion with extravagant cargo: the rich and famous. For the likes of Mark Twain, Henry James and President Grover Cleveland, whose home here was known as the ‘summer White House,’ Marion became a treasured sanctuary from city life. Teeming with prosperity and the blossoming arts, this hamlet offered a setting so breathtaking that it inspired some of the world’s foremost creative minds. Encouraged by The Century Magazine editor Richard Watson Gilder, prominent artists, architects, writers and celebrities flocked to Marion. Also frequented by Academy Award-winning Ethel Barrymore, it was here that Charles Dana Gibson sketched his iconic ‘Gibson Girl.’ Whether following First Lady Frances Cleveland’s trendsetting fashion or the well-publicized wedding of Cecil Clark and Richard Harding Davis, the eyes of America were firmly planted on Marion’s sparkling shores and glittering guests.”

~ Excerpt from Judith Westlund Rosbe’s book, Marion in the Golden Age

Page 5: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Rear Admiral Andrew A. Harwood, circa 1863. Courtesy of St. Gabriel’s Church

Page 6: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Painting by Cecilia Beaux of Richard Watson Gilder in 1902.

Page 7: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Interior of Old Stone Studio on Spring Street. From left to right are Mrs. Cleveland’s mother, Joseph Jefferson, Mrs. Jefferson, Richard Watson Gilder, Mrs. Frances Folsom Cleveland and Mrs. Gilder. The fireplace was designed by famed architect Stanford White. 

Page 8: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Wedding photograph of the marriage of Cecil Clark and Richard Harding Davis on May 4, 1899 at St. Gabriel’s Church. The maid of honor was Ethel Barrymore (on Cecil’s right) and best man was Charles Davis (behind Barrymore); Cecil’s mother, Louise, stands behind her daughter; Charles Dana Gibson stands behind Richard; and John Fox, Jr. is at Richard’s left. Courtesy of Marion Art Center

Page 9: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Bessy Harwood, who was called “Aunt Bessy” by the Gilder children, holds Rosamond Gilder while George Gilder stands beside her.

Page 10: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

 

Wedding portrait of Richard Watson Gilder and Helena de Kay in 1874.

Page 11: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Richard Harding Davis in the small house on Main Street that he rented as his office. The photograph is addressed to Walter Hellier of Marion. Courtesy of the Rosbe Collection

Page 12: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Cecil Clark Davis, Ethel Barrymore and Richard Harding Davis bicycling in Marion. Courtesy of Marion Art Center

Page 13: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Mark Twain and Henry Huttleston Rogers, circa 1908. Courtesy of Millicent Library

Page 14: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Cecil Clark Davis painting in her yard on Harbor Lane (now called Water Street). Courtesy of Marion Art Center

Page 15: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Charles Dana Gibson’s illustration of Gibson Girls at the beach.

Page 16: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Engraving of the Bay View House, which was built in 1794 by the Hiller family on the corner of South Street and Harbor Lane. In 1882, the Sippican Hotel was added to the Harbor Lane side and the Sippican Hotel Casino for dances and tennis was added across the street on the Harbor.

Page 17: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Helena de Kay Gilder painting at her studio in Marion.

Page 18: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer in her Marion summer home in 1887. She was a close friend of the Gilders, and it was in her New York City home that Richard Watson Gilder died in 1909.

Page 19: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Actor Joseph Jefferson doing a dramatic interpretation of Rip Van Winkle, circa 1859. Jefferson was a fishing companion of Grover Cleveland, Richard Watson Gilder and L. Clarke Davis in Marion. Courtesy of Frank McNamee

Page 20: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

John Nicolay, Abraham Lincoln and John Hay, circa 1861. Nicolay and Hay were private secretaries to President Abraham Lincoln and wrote a history of Lincoln’s presidency. 

Page 21: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Augustus Saint-Gaudens modeling a portrait of Mrs. Cleveland in the Old Stone Studio in 1887. This is the only known existing photograph showing Saint-Gaudens at work.

Page 22: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Mrs. Cleveland and baby Esther in 1893. Esther Cleveland is the only child of a president born in the White House.

Page 23: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Portrait of Walter Damrosch that he gave to friend Cecil Clark Davis; it was found among her personal effects after her death. Courtesy of Marion Art Center

Page 24: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Charles Dana Gibson illustration entitled, The Weaker Sex.

Page 25: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Grover Cleveland and Reverend Percy Browne walking at the corner of Harbor Lane and Main Street, circa 1889. Note the absence of any Secret Service agents.

Page 26: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

President Grover Cleveland, Mrs. Cleveland, Reverend Percy Browne (left) and Reverend Richard Fuller on the porch at 46 Water Street.

Page 27: Marion in the Golden Age: The Exhibit

Home (circa 1902) designed for Reverend Percy Browne by Henry Hobson Richardson in 1881.