The Battle of Gettysburg Series – By Peter Frederick Rothermel (1812-1895)

Posted by on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on The Battle of Gettysburg Series – By Peter Frederick Rothermel (1812-1895) Perhaps the most impressive item of public art in the capital, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is the monumental “Battle of Gettysburg, Pickett’s Charge,” by Peter Frederick Rothermel. Its sheer size, over sixteen feet high by more than thirty-two feet wide, and its theatrical composition, make it an over-powering experience. The “Battle of Gettysburg,” is located on the...
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Painting for Peer, Patron and the Public

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Painting for Peer, Patron and the Public For three centuries, Pennsylvania has en­joyed a rich and di­verse cultural heritage. The elegance of its colonial and federal architecture and furniture in Philadelphia is unrivaled, prompting architect Benjamin Latrobe in 1811 to christen the city “the Athens of the Western World.” During the opening years of the nine­teenth century, Philadelphia attracted artists and artisans from...
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Letters to the Editor

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Letters to the Editor Three Cheers Three cheers for Pennsylvania Heritage and William D. Owen for the excellent article devoted to the Fairmount Water Works (see “The Fairmount Water Works: ‘One of the very prettiest spots the eye can look upon'” in the spring 1994 edition). The discussion of the prob­lems associated with the early use of steam power and the impact on the sub­sequent development of...
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Currents

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Currents Grand Manner Born in Nescopeck, Luzerne County, Peter Frederick Rothermel (1812-1895) was once one of the most celebrated his­tory painters in the United States (see “Painting for Peer, Patron, and the Public” by Kent Ahrens in the spring 1992 edition of Pennsylvania Heritage). Neglected for decades, he is at last being celebrated in a major exhibition, “Painting in the Grand...
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Executive Director’s Letter

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on Executive Director’s Letter The commemoration of historical events and anniversaries is one of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s legislated responsibilities. The year 2013 will provide a number of opportunities to do so. For each of us these anniversaries provide a doorway to discovering more about Pennsylvania’s legacies. This year three notable anniversaries relate to the American Civil War. In January...
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