AN ICONIC COLLEGE VIEW: "BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY" RUMMELL, RICHARD (1848-1924)

 

Bucknell University

Richard Rummell

Restrike engraving from the original plate (c.1913)

Printed on heavy woven paper and hand colored

Plate Size: 17 x 29 ¼ 

At the turn of the century, the accomplished landscape artist Richard Rummell (1848-1924) painted a panoramic bird’s-eye view watercolor of Bucknell University. In this selection of paintings of American colleges and universities, Rummell selected the twenty best colleges in the nation at the time of painting. His inclusion of these universities in his oeuvre indicates his immense respect for these institutions. From this watercolor, a copper-plate was engraved and a limited number of pulls (engravings) were distributed. Today, Arader Galleries owns the collection of copper plates used for engraving and watercolors. Using the original process and 100 year old original plates, Arader is proudly re-striking and making the beautiful college view available for acquisition the same way it was 100 years ago.

Bucknell University was founded in 1846 by Baptists as the University at Louisbourg. It was intended to consist of a high school for males, a separate school for females, a college, and a theological institution. Originally part of the men’s high school, in 1850 the 1850 the Academical and Primary Department moved into Taylor Hall, the oldest building on the Bucknell campus. The school’s graduating class of seven men completed their education in 1851. One of these distinguished gentlemen was James Bucannan, future President of the United States. The University was co-ed until the female institute was opened  in 1852. A year later, college courses became available to women through this school. Due to steep increases in the enrollment of women, Larison Hall was built. In 1881 the university was in dire financial straits, but the generosity of William Bucknell and his $50,000 donation saved the university. In honor of this, the name of the school was changed to Bucknell University. Although its origins were as a literary institution, the school has grown to embrace the sciences and business studies. First awarding BS degrees in 1925, the school established a college of Engineering in 1962, and a school of management in 2008. 

To the front of the view, one can see Bucknell Hall. The President’s House sits at the corner of University Avenue at Loomis Street. Between this and the Tustin Gymnasium sitting to the left of the view, an athletic field encompassed by a track is depicted. Requested in 1893 by the student body, the Trustees provided a small financial contribution to this endeavor on the condition the remaining funds be provided by alumni of the University. To the top of The Hill and right of Tustin is the Men’s College Quadrangle, which consists of East College, Old Main, and West College. Behind the west wing of Old Main, a small portion of Carnegie Library can be seen. Downhill from West College sits the Academy Building and East Hall. The Chemical Laboratory can be seen at the base of the hill. The Women’s College at Bucknell can be seen in the lower right corner of the view. The fields and woodlands beyond the college in the right rear which are untouched in this view were eventually incorporated into the Bucknell campus after the University purchased the George Barron Miller farm in 1920, increasing the size of the school by 170 acres.

To order a college view, please email loricohen@aradergalleries.com or call 215-796-0358 (mobile) or 215-735-8811 (landline).