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

Bowdoin 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 

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 Bowdoin 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 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.

“To make the desert bloom.” These biblical terms describe the early mission for the Huguenot merchants who founded Bowdoin College. In the wake of the American Revolution, the founders sought to create a university that would focus on instilling republican values and fomenting social stability. Named for Governor James Bowdoin II, who supposedly played a great role in the Revolutionary War, his son James Bowdoin III provided much of the land and money necessary for the College’s foundation. Receiving its charter in 1794, Bowdoin College would later open in 1802 in Brunswick in modern-day Maine (Maine would not exist as a state until 1820). The location was viewed as a compromise between those in the eastern portions of the state and the others in Portland. 

Bowdoin College itself deems its early curriculum as “an eighteenth century one” filled with much memorization and scientific practice. However, the strengths of Bowdoin College that span into the modern day were apparent from its foundation. The libraries and arts at Bowdoin College have long stood as some of the finest in the nation. James Bowdoin III had a great fascination with art, allowing the college to amass a fine collection of these materials. That is part of what makes Rummell’s painting of Bowdoin College such a unique piece to own. His fantastic work in depicting the university at the turn of the century pays homage to Bowdoin College’s rich artistic tradition.

Rummell is likely painting a few from around the intersection of Sillis Drive, Federal Street, and Bath Road. One is immediately drawn to the Walker Art Building, known as the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, located in the center of the painting. Named after Theophilus Walker, a Boston merchant who had started a small art gallery, the building was completed in 1894 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It features a style reminiscent of the Renaissance and is complete with two magnificent lion statues to either side. 

Fantastic details on the other buildings help situate one within the expanse of Bowdoin College’s campus. Arguably Bowdoin College’s most beautiful building, Hubbard Hall (completed in 1903 and designed by Henry Vaughan) is present just to the left of the Walker Art Building. It was initially designed to be the college library. Just in front of Hubbard Hall, one is able to see the side of Bowdoin College’s chapel (completed in 1855). After a trip to England, Leonard Woods, the fourth college president, enlisted architect Richard Upjohn to design a chapel in the Greek Romanesque style that is frequently found in England. 

Being completed in the early twentieth century, Rummell’s painting also offers great detail of the surrounding natural scenery. This offers one a unique view of the natural beauty surrounding Bowdoin’s campus that is a great part of what makes attending Bowdoin such a great pleasure. This Rummell painting is a truly unique piece to decorate any office, home, or corridor. 

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