Details
Creator Falconer, John Mackie, 1820-1903, artist.
Contributor Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929, former owner.
Title [Fulton House, No. 121 South Second Street, Philadelphia] [graphic] / JMF 1861.
Publisher [Philadelphia?]
Date [1861]
Physical Description 1 drawing : watercolor on artist board ; sheet 36 x 17 cm (14 x 6.75 in.)
Description Busy view showing the early 1780s former residence of miniature painter and steamboat engineer Robert Fulton when tenanted by a lager beer saloon. Depicts two saloon workers moving barrels across from two men conversing near the entryway of the two-story, wooden building with display window and awning. One worker emerges with a barrel from the cellar in front of the window while the other rolls one of four barrels in his direction and away from a tilted telegraph pole. The pole extends up through the awning and leans into the roof of the adjoining building in the left. “Restaurant” is written on the display window and "Lager Beer Saloon" is written on the awning. A fire insurance marker and signage reading “121 Fulton House” and “ale” also adorn the building. Also shows partial views of adjacent brick buildings, and in the left, a woman attired in a hat, dress, and apron walking on the sidewalk and carrying a ceramic carafe. Building in right, likely a grocery store, is adorned with an awning frame on which a small round sign reading “L” hangs. Building is also adorned with signage that is partially visible and reads "Groc" and "Joh." Fulton lived and worked on South Second Street in the early 1780s. While in Philadelphia, he worked as an apprentice and miniature painter as well as began his experiments with the mechanics of steam power. In 1786 he relocated to Front Street. About 1787 he moved to London and studied painting with American-born artist Benjamin West.
Notes Artist and title from manuscript note on oil painting depicting similar scene and given in 1863 to Ferdinand Dreer by James L. Claghorn. Sold on liveauctioneers in 2019. Manuscript note: Ferdinand J. Dreer Esq. with Jas. l. Claghorn’s compliments, House No. 121 South Second Street Philadelphia PA in which Robert Fulton served his apprenticeship to an optician by John M. Falconer for NY Artists Fund Society, October 1863.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Drawing may be the watercolor listed as entry 291 and for sale by the artist in the United States Centennial Commission International Exhibition 1876 official catalogue, Art gallery and annexes. Department IV. Art. Tenth and Revised Edition (Philadelphia: John R. Nagle & Co., 1876), 14.
Artist's initials written in lower right corner.
Manuscript notes in modern hand on verso: Fasten title on backs, 132. From the collection of Samuel Castner, Jr. of Philadelphia.
John Mackie Falconer (1820-1903), a Scottish-born New York artist, began his career as a painter and watercolorist before also specializing in etching starting in the mid 1860s. Known for works depicting older buildings and ruins, he was a treasurer of the Artist’s Fund Society, a member of the New York Etching Club, and an honorary member of the National Academy of Design.
Subject Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815 -- Homes and haunts.
Barrels -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Beer halls -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Brewing industry -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Laborers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Telegraph poles -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Geographic subject Second Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) -- South -- 121.
Genre Watercolors -- 1860-1870.
Associated name Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929, former owner.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| *drawings & watercolors - Falconer [P.2021.1]
Accession number P.2021.1

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