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The house appears to be a Cape Cod with a center chimney and center entrance, built by Erastus's grandfather who immigrated from Connecticut. Two stone fences and a stone wall are clearly visible. Both these styles of fences were typical enclosures for the 19th century in New York state.
Erastus Dow Palmer and the artist undoubtedly knew one another rather well. Both were extremely well-known artists in the Hudson area - Palmer doing likenesses of many locally famous persons and Hart becoming a Vice-President of the National Academy of Design. In the year 1864 an exhibition took place in Palmer's studio under the auspices of the United States Sanitary Commission for the benefit of wounded veterans of the Civil War. An entry in Palmer's diary or guest book reads as follows: "Medallion - likeness (in plaster) - 1851 - Jas. M. Hart." It is quite possible that Hart did a painting for Palmer in return for the medallion Palmer did of him.
Artist
James M. Hart
(Scottish-American, 1828 - 1901)
Home Of Erastus Dow Palmer
Date1859
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsSight: 17 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (44.5 × 59.7 cm)
Object numberN0015.1947
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Joseph P. Gravit
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThis painting depicts the birthplace of Erastus Dow Palmer in Pompey, New York in the year 1817. He first earned a living as a carpenter eventually moving to Albany in 1846 where he produced his first sculpture of note in 1852, having already become well-known for his medallions.
The house appears to be a Cape Cod with a center chimney and center entrance, built by Erastus's grandfather who immigrated from Connecticut. Two stone fences and a stone wall are clearly visible. Both these styles of fences were typical enclosures for the 19th century in New York state.
Erastus Dow Palmer and the artist undoubtedly knew one another rather well. Both were extremely well-known artists in the Hudson area - Palmer doing likenesses of many locally famous persons and Hart becoming a Vice-President of the National Academy of Design. In the year 1864 an exhibition took place in Palmer's studio under the auspices of the United States Sanitary Commission for the benefit of wounded veterans of the Civil War. An entry in Palmer's diary or guest book reads as follows: "Medallion - likeness (in plaster) - 1851 - Jas. M. Hart." It is quite possible that Hart did a painting for Palmer in return for the medallion Palmer did of him.
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