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

 

Smith College

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 Smith College. 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.

A prestigious Liberal Arts college for women, Smith was founded 140 years ago in 1871 by Sophia Smith. She wanted to create a school which would provide women the opportunity to receive an education equal to men at college. Bequeathing in her will a large portion of her fortune to this end, the school which bears her name would achieve and surpass her vision. First opening in 1875, the school would become a member of the elite Seven Sisters, a group of prestigious women’s colleges created to be equal to the all-male ivy league schools. These schools enabled women of an ivy-league caliber to receive an education equivalent to that of the universities which excluded them on the basis of their gender. Continuing this legacy of excellence, Smith College provides a high-quality education to the intelligent women who attend it to this day, and has produced many noteworthy alumni such as Gloria Steinem and Sylvia Plath. 

At the intersection of Elm Street and West Street, College Hall can be seen front and center in the view. The first building on campus, its stately square tower attracts the eye, making it function effectively as the centerpiece of the view. To the left of College Hall, many additional buildings are rendered by Rummell. Directly to the left lies Pierce Hall. Originally one of the early classroom buildings on campus, it currently houses faculty and the Mary Maples Dunn conference room. Further left of this hall is Lilly Hall, which currently houses the Smith College School for Social Work. Hubbard House is behind and to the left of Lilly Hall. Once home to Julia Child during her time at Smith, it is home to around 50 women. Distinctive for its curved front in the center of the building, Seelye Hall functions as the main humanities building on campus. It was named after the first president of the College, Laurenus Clark Seelye. Behind this building stands Neilson Library. Named for the third president of the College, William Allan Neilson, it functions as the intellectual heart of the campus. Washburn house stands behind the Neilson Library but to the front of Seelye Hall. It was built to house the incoming class of 1882, and is one of the original three houses built for the campus. Behind Washburn Hall, the Alumnae Gymnasium can be seen in the view. It was home to the first women’s basketball match in 1893. 

            

            Lawrence House and Morris House both stand to the left of Washburn House. These halls were built in 1891 to keep up with the ever-rising rate of enrollment at the College. An impressive Queen-Anne style building, Tyler House stands to the left of Morris House. It is home to 70 students from all four years, and is known for its comfortable living room area. As one of the first six residences built on campus, its history is apparent to the eye through its Victorian architecture. Directly to the right of College Hall Stoddard Hall can be seen. It is currently home to an auditorium and IT services. To the right and behind College Hall in a cluster of three, Clark, Dewey, and Hatfield Halls can be seen. The former is home to Student Affairs and the Wurtele Center for Work and Life. The latter houses the foreign-language departments at the College. The Ionian columns of Dewey hall distinguish it from its sister halls. Currently housing faculty offices, it was built in 1827 and functioned as the residence hall of Smith’s earliest students.

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