AUBURN - The Seward House has long stood as a historical landmark, representing a time of growth and expansion in America.
It also saw the likes of Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant and Harriet Tubman pass through its doors.
In the face of the many significant historical moments attached to William Seward and his home, it's easy to overlook other aspects of the building.
Throughout his life Seward was an avid art collector, evidenced by the many pieces that adorn the walls of the home to this day.
“We have so many really beautiful works here,” said Jennifer Haines, curator of education and outreach. “Normally we are focused on other things in the house and we wanted to give these pieces a chance to stand on their own and be the focal point.”
A discussion Wednesday, hosted by Joan Marcoccia, began with a painting by Thomas Cole titled “Portage Falls on the Genesee River.”
Marcoccia, who has a background in fine arts and a degree from Syracuse University, said the oil painting, which depicts an area now known as Letchworth Park, is one of the more outstanding pieces in the collection.
“It really is magnificent, breathtaking,” Marcoccia said. “This is the 100th anniversary of Letchworth Park, so it ties in very well. But it really is a phenomenal, beautiful painting.”
Cole created the painting at the request of several of Seward's friends when he was governor and making plans to expand access to the Erie Canal through the Genesee River area.
The canal expansion, Marcoccia said, was a dangerous process, one in which workers encountered many unsafe conditions such as rock slides that suspended work on several occasions.
“The work was reinstated,” Marcoccia said. “New saw mills sprang up built on steam power, blacksmith shops and life sprang up around the area.”
Cole's painting captures the area in the peaceful moments before life came into the Genesee River.
Cole at this time was considered to be one of the top landscape painters in the country, having helped found the Hudson River School.
In the painting, Cole captures the immensity of nature from the soaring eagles to the trees and plunging mountains and gorges of the Genesee River landscape and one solitary figure, identified as Cole himself almost lost in the huge landscape.
Cole was paid $1,000 for the painting and it remained in Seward's office throughout his term as governor.
Peter Wisbey, executive director of Seward House, said that after Seward left the governor's mansion there are several years where there are no certain records of where the painting was, but he said there is some certainty that after renovations and expansions to the house in the 1860s, the painting was a prominent part of the newly added drawing room.
“That was the showiest room,” Wisbey said. “We have documents saying that the painting was a big feature of this room. We even have engravings from Seward's funeral, when the body was lying in state, and the painting is included. It really was the dominate feature of the room.”
Haines said that there are plans to offer this discussion several more times over the next six months and plans for more talks on some of the other artists whose works are part of the house.
“We want to give people the opportunity to see another aspect of the house,” Haines said. “There are so many other nice works in here, as well. We are planning on doing another on (Emmanuel) Leutze (who painted Washington crossing the Delaware). We have three of his works, including a painting of the purchase of Alaska. I think doing this will give people a chance come here and spend some time and really get a chance to appreciate all the different aspects of what the house offers.”
In the face of the many significant historical moments attached to William Seward and his home, it's easy to overlook other aspects of the building.
Throughout his life Seward was an avid art collector, evidenced by the many pieces that adorn the walls of the home to this day.
“We have so many really beautiful works here,” said Jennifer Haines, curator of education and outreach. “Normally we are focused on other things in the house and we wanted to give these pieces a chance to stand on their own and be the focal point.”
A discussion Wednesday, hosted by Joan Marcoccia, began with a painting by Thomas Cole titled “Portage Falls on the Genesee River.”
Marcoccia, who has a background in fine arts and a degree from Syracuse University, said the oil painting, which depicts an area now known as Letchworth Park, is one of the more outstanding pieces in the collection.
“It really is magnificent, breathtaking,” Marcoccia said. “This is the 100th anniversary of Letchworth Park, so it ties in very well. But it really is a phenomenal, beautiful painting.”
Cole created the painting at the request of several of Seward's friends when he was governor and making plans to expand access to the Erie Canal through the Genesee River area.
The canal expansion, Marcoccia said, was a dangerous process, one in which workers encountered many unsafe conditions such as rock slides that suspended work on several occasions.
“The work was reinstated,” Marcoccia said. “New saw mills sprang up built on steam power, blacksmith shops and life sprang up around the area.”
Cole's painting captures the area in the peaceful moments before life came into the Genesee River.
Cole at this time was considered to be one of the top landscape painters in the country, having helped found the Hudson River School.
In the painting, Cole captures the immensity of nature from the soaring eagles to the trees and plunging mountains and gorges of the Genesee River landscape and one solitary figure, identified as Cole himself almost lost in the huge landscape.
Cole was paid $1,000 for the painting and it remained in Seward's office throughout his term as governor.
Peter Wisbey, executive director of Seward House, said that after Seward left the governor's mansion there are several years where there are no certain records of where the painting was, but he said there is some certainty that after renovations and expansions to the house in the 1860s, the painting was a prominent part of the newly added drawing room.
“That was the showiest room,” Wisbey said. “We have documents saying that the painting was a big feature of this room. We even have engravings from Seward's funeral, when the body was lying in state, and the painting is included. It really was the dominate feature of the room.”
Haines said that there are plans to offer this discussion several more times over the next six months and plans for more talks on some of the other artists whose works are part of the house.
“We want to give people the opportunity to see another aspect of the house,” Haines said. “There are so many other nice works in here, as well. We are planning on doing another on (Emmanuel) Leutze (who painted Washington crossing the Delaware). We have three of his works, including a painting of the purchase of Alaska. I think doing this will give people a chance come here and spend some time and really get a chance to appreciate all the different aspects of what the house offers.”
