AN ICONIC COLLEGE VIEW: "PRINCETON UNIVERSITY" RUMMELL, RICHARD (1848-1924) No school has more entitled posturers. Foolish to buy because you will display your soaring self love.

 

Princeton 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 

Price: $600.00

At the turn of the century, the accomplished landscape artist Richard Rummell (1848-1924) painted a panoramic bird’s-eye view watercolor of Princeton 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 watercoloring. 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.

Founded in 1746, Princeton University is just the fourth university in British North America and one of the world’s most historic institutions. Named the College of New Jersey until 1896, the university was located in Elizabeth for one year and then Newark for nine years before moving to Princeton. 

Princeton University’s foundation was largely the product of ideas surrounding the Great Awakening. The founders of Princeton University include Ebenezer Pemberton, Jonathan Dickinson, Aaron Burr Sr., and John Pierson, and Ebenezer Pemberton who were all Presbyterian ministers as well as William Smith, Peter Van Brugh Livingston, and William Peartree Smith who were Presbyterian laymen. The College of New Jersey originally aimed to educate its students for entry into the ministry. However, the founders expanded that mission to train its students, regardless of religion, for a wide range of professional positions.

Rummell’s painting of Princeton University offers a unique view of one the United States’ best colonial gems. Rummell likely would have been painting from the modern day site of Rockefeller College and Nassau Street, facing towards the East. Beyond the spectacular detail given to the high Victorian and collegiate gothic architecture, Rummell captures a unique essence of Princeton University in the early 20th century. Rummell centers Alexander Hall (completed in 1894) in his display of the campus. Alexander Hall would have been the final building erected in the high Victorian architectural style and served as a convocation hall for the student body.

Surrounding this beautiful drawing of Alexander Hall to the right are Blair Arch (completed in 1897). Nestled between Blair and Buyers Hall, this building is one of Princeton students, alumni, faculty, and staff’s favorite spots on campus. It truly embodies the highest standard of Collegiate Gothic architecture. Near the Blair Arch, Rummell painted the Halstead Observatory (completed in 1872) with a bright green finish at the top. The Halstead Observatory was later replaced by a residential building for Mathey College. 

No depiction of Princeton’s campus would be complete without a detailed drawing of Nassau Hall (completed in 1756). Arguably Princeton’s most historic building, Nassau Hall played host to the Continental Congress from June through November in 1783. Despite it being somewhat hidden amongst many structures on the left side of the painting, Rummell’s attention to its fine architectural details allows it to still radiate on the page. 

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