Among the objects donated to the museum last September was a large steamer trunk. This trunk (see below) was used at the Granogue Estate to store a collection of 19th century prints, paintings, and artists’ materials historically connected to Elise Wigfall (Simons) du Pont (1849-1919). Granogue served as a place of residence for the descendants of Elise and her husband, Francis Gurney du Pont (1850-1904), who was a vice president of E.I du Pont de Nemours & Co. Elise’s collection from Granogue paints a picture of the art scene within Victorian Philadelphia.
Artwork and printed materials in this collection show Philadelphia to be a center for artistic activity during the 19th century. Showcased in this collection are playbills and programs distributed by theater houses in Philadelphia, which list scheduled performances such as The Gladiator, The Lady of Lyons, and Around the World in Eighty Days. One theater house represented is the Walnut Street Theatre, which was established in 1808 and continues to operate today. These printed materials illustrate how the city of Philadelphia was vibrant with theater activity.
While some painting materials in this collection were purchased overseas, others were sourced within Philadelphia, such as gold-colored paint (see right and below) sold by Janentzky & Co. Once located on 1125 Chestnut Street, the company was a renowned seller and manufacturer for artists’ materials such as paints, pigments, and painting tools. A company catalog printed in 1879 lists bottled liquid paint in the color gold for $1.75. It may be inferred that businesses such as Janentzky & Co. served as sources of creativity within Philadelphia.
Taylor Stammler is a Collections Assistant at Hagley Museum and Library