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

 

University of Missouri

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 the University of Missouri. 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.

The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 following the passage of the Geyer Act, a Missouri State Legislature law specifically intended to create a public university. The valiant efforts of citizens in Boone County led to Columbia being selected as the site for the university. The University of Missouri was the first public university west of the Mississippi River and among the earliest colleges in all areas to the west of the Mississippi River. As one of the United States land grant colleges (it would acquire that status later), it played a crucial effort in expanding educational access. Just under two hundred years later, its reputation in research and academia has blossomed greatly. 

In his painting, Rummell does a fantastic job capturing the natural beauty that surrounds the Columbia campus. He is likely painting from the corner of Sixth and Elm Street, looking south and east upon the campus. Naturally, the focus of Rummell’s painting is David R. Francis Quadrangle. The array of spectacular buildings place this Quadrangle among the most beautiful in the country. Standing out in this plaza is the Dr. Richard H. Jesse Hall, completed in 1892 following the original structure, Academic Hall burning down. It is named in honor of the president of the university at the time, Dr. Richard H. Jesse, who dedicated himself to ensuring that the campus would remain beautiful with the addition of many other buildings following that fire. 

Other staple features of the current campus are carefully drawn by Rummell. “The Columns” in the Quadrangle indicate the only remaining structures from the old Academic Hall. They remain a truly unique feature of the campus. To the left of Jesse Hall, Swallow Hall (completed in 1893) stands before the extreme damage it would take from an 1893 tornado. Following this natural disaster, much of Swallow Hall would be rebuilt. On the right of Jesse Hall, Lafferre Hall’s earliest version (completed in 1893) is shown. McAlester Hall (completed in 1902) appears near the bottom right of the painting. 

For any alum of the University of Missouri, this is truly a special piece to own.

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