The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Powers, Hiram, 1805-1873.

Title: Papers

Dates: 1840-1869

Call No.: Col. 400

Acc. No.: [various – see detailed description]

Quantity: 13 items

Location: 34 J 2, and map case 2, drawer 2

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Sculptor Hiram Powers was born near Woodstock, Vermont, in 1805, but spent most of his youth in Ohio. At age 17, Powers began work in a clock and organ factory in Cincinnati, Ohio. Around 1828, he took a position in Dorfeuille's Western Museum in Cincinnati where he made his first sculpted figures out of wax. His work attracted the attention of Nicholas Longworth, a wealthy patron who financed Powers' move to Washington, DC in 1834. There, Powers sculpted noted government officials including Daniel Webster and Andrew Jackson. Longworth's patronage enabled Powers and his family to move to Europe in 1837 where, after a few months stay in Paris, they relocated to Florence, Italy. Powers remained in Florence until his death in 1873.

Powers' first full length statue in marble was the nude "Eve" of 1838. His best known work, "The Greek Slave," came in 1843 and was so well received by both American and European audiences that almost overnight it established Powers as the leading American sculptor of the time.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection contains correspondence, photographs, and an advertisement of sculptor Hiram Powers and his works. Two business letters from Powers discuss shipping insurance and a payment dispute. A third letter contains personal news and mentions that he is working on "a statue of Old Lady Eve." Four of the photographs are of Powers, while the remaining are of his statues. Identified statues include Hope, Paradise Lost, America, Christ, Washington, Franklin, Diana, Prosperine, and Eve. Photographs bear the imprint of L. Powers, Photographie Americaine, Florence. An advertisement, circa 1852, announces the exhibition of his statue “The Greek Slave” in the United States. It contains a poem about the statue written by W. H. Coyle.

ORGANIZATION

The letters are filed together, as are the photos of Hiram Powers, and then the photos of his sculptures. The advertisement is in an oversize folder.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from various sources.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Art, American.

Artists - Correspondence.

Busts - Photographs.

Figure sculpture - Photographs.

Photography of sculpture.

Portrait sculpture - Photographs.

Sculpture, American - Photographs.

Statues - Photographs.

Photographs.

Letters.

Sculptors - United States.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 J 2, and map case 2, drawer 2

Folder 1: Letters

65x49a letter, Hiram Powers, Florence, May 17, 1840, to Clebbourne[?]. Hasn’t time at present to answer his letter as it deserves. Regrets that Clebbourne’s friends cannot stay longer in Florence. Appears he didn’t receive Powers’ previous letter. Glad to hear that Harry Trollope is better. Was hoping Mrs. Trollope would come to Florence. “I am making a statue of Old Lady Eve….”

[It appears that one or more lines have been cut out from the letter.]

72x159.1 press copy of letter, Hiram Powers, Florence, Oct. 1, 1855, to James L. Cleghorn, Philadelphia. Encloses bill of lading for 3 cases of pictures shipped from Leghorn. T. Buchanan Read just left for home. Read wants to insure the packages.

With penciled note at top: press copy – original sent last week with duplicate bill of lading

76x117 letter, Hiram Powers to John G[illegible] Gray, date penciled in: May 1, 1867; Mr. Durant realized he was in error when he stated that he had paid Powers’ claim, but he has now settled. Powers had written Mrs. Durant that he was putting the bust on a shelf marked “unpaid for.” All is well.

Folder 2: photographs of Hiram Powers

65x49b Powers leaning against a pedestal on which sits the bust of a woman, possibly the bust of “Greek Slave”

71x148.3a Powers, head only, surrounded by small photos of some of his works (chiefly busts): Greek Slave, Proserpine (2 views), Eve, a hand, America (2 views), Washington (2 views), Franklin, Diana (2 views), and Fisher Boy; photo taken by L. Powers, Florence

71x148.3f Powers, full length, wearing a cap and his work apron over his suit, carte-de-visite photo taken by L. Powers, Florence

71x148.3g Powers, upper body only, wearing his work cap with his suit, carte-de-visite photo taken by L. Powers, Florence

Folder 3: photographs of busts and statue

71x148.3b-c two views of the same bust, .3c is labeled on back: “76. Christ, H. Powers, Florence.” Both taken by L. Powers

71x148.3d statue of a woman, labeled on back “Powers, California, Powers, villa, May 19,” photo by L. Powers

71x148.3h bust of “America,” dated on back: May 19, 1869, carte-de-visite photo taken by L. Powers

71x148.3i bust of “Eve,” written on back: “Eve Disconsolate, head of the[?] same[?] statue to be called Paradise Lost”; carte-de-visite photo taken by L. Powers

71x148.3j bust of “Hope,” written on back: “Hope, Powers, villa”; carte-de-visite photo taken by L. Powers

Folder 4: advertisement (OVERSIZE – in map case)

2019x69 advertisement for display of Powers’ statue “The Greek Slave,” circa 1852. The ad is written so that is can be used in all cities where the statue was to be displayed: the statue “is now on exhibition for a few days, in this place, … for place of Exhibition see daily Papers.” The ad describes the statue; tells of it being displayed in the Crystal Palace; includes excerpts from newspapers; and includes the poem “The Greek Slave” by W. H. Coyle.