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Liberty and Washington
Liberty and Washington
Artist (American)
Related Person (1732 - 1799)

Liberty and Washington

Date1800-1810
DimensionsSight: 66 1/2 × 35 1/2 in. (168.9 × 90.2 cm)
Object numberN0535.1948
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextDuring the Neoclassical Period (1780-1830), Liberty was often depicted as a Roman goddess and used to symbolize the United States. This rendition of Liberty incorporates many well-known patriotic symbols, including the American flag, Bald Eagle, white pine tree, Liberty pole and cap, laurel wreath of the classical victor, bust of Washington, and Crown of Tyranny upon which Liberty tramples. The object was reportedly used as a windowshade in a Connecticut tavern. It was collected in the 1920's by Elie Nadelman, a modern sculptor who, with his wife, formed one of the earliest and largest folk art collections in the United States.
Exhibition History“American Fancy: Exuberance in the Arts 1790-1840,” Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, MD, March 12, 2004 – March 20, 2005; Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, July 14, 2004 – October 31, 2004; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI, April 3, 2004 – June 20, 2004.

“Folk Art and American Modernism,” American Folk Art Museum, New York, NY, July 8, 2015 – October 1, 2015; Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, September 18, 2014 – December 31, 2014.

“The Folk Art Collection of Elie Nadelman: Making it Modern,” Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque, NM, August 11, 2015 – May 6, 2016; New York Historical Society, New York, NY, May 25, 2016 – August 21, 2016; Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, MA, September 17, 2016 – December 31, 2016.
On View
Not on view
Goddess of Liberty
L.W. Cushing & Sons
1865
Apollo
Skillen
c. 1795
Caricature of J. H. I. Browere
William Dunlap
after 1827
Washington's Tomb at Mt. Vernon
Unidentified Artist
1850
Dance Fan
Central Yup'ik
1875-1900
Statue of Liberty
Gregorio Marzan
1992
Ceres
Skillen
c. 1800
Classical Scene
Unidentified Artist
c. 1810
Columbia
Unidentified Artist
c. 1870
Liberty at Niagara Falls
Unidentified Artist
1820-1830
America
Unidentified Artist
c. 1815

5798 STATE HIGHWAY 80
COOPERSTOWN NY, 13326
607-547-1400

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