Finding Aid to the Mantle Fielding Papers, 1902-1938

Mantle Fielding, architect and authority on colonial American painting, published several books. The collection consists primarily of notes and photographs for two of those books.

Mantle Fielding was an architect and authority on colonial painting. Born in New York City, the son of Mantle and Anna M. Stone Fielding, he was educated at the Germantown (Pennsylvania) Academy. He graduated in 1883 and then studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After working as a draftsman and architect in Philadelphia, he launched an independent firm around 1886 that continued in operation until 1938. Fielding concentrated on residential work, preferring the colonial revival style. Fielding joined the T-Square club in 1886.

The first of Fielding's numerous publications in the field of art history appeared in 1904. His best known work, Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers, was published in 1926, and reprinted several times. He also wrote about Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, and portraits of George Washington. Fielding was married to Amy Reeve Williams; they had two children, Richard M. and Frances. For many years, they resided in Germantown. Fielding died at his home there at the age of 76.

The collection consists primarily of Fielding's study notes for Life and Works of Thomas Sully and Life Portraits of Washington. It includes 273 photographs of Sully portraits that correspond to the catalogue in the book on Thomas Sully; an incomplete set of proof pages from his book, with comments made by Fielding; 23 letters from Lawrence Park to Fielding concerning Gilbert Stuart portraits; 14 letters from Thomas B. Clarke about Stuart's portraits of George Washington; 125 pieces of correspondence from various individuals and galleries, mostly pertaining to portraits of George Washington; a set of clippings, photographs, pages from gallery catalogs, and notes on American artists; a scrapbook with pictures from catalogs relating to European artists; 190 photographs of Washington portraits with notes that correspond to items listed in Life Portraits of Washington; 180 photographs, notes, and engravings that address Washington portraits done by unknown artists or that are of questionable attribution; proof pages for Life Portraits with some clippings about the book; and finally, an annotated copy of Fielding's Catalogue of Engraved Work of David Edwin, with miscellaneous notes and letters about it.

The items are arranged in accession number order.

Catalogue... of David Edwin transferred from Printed Books. Other items purchased from David Lucas.

Books by Mantle Fielding are located in the Printed Books and Periodicals department of the library.

Correspondence with Eunice Chambers is found her papers, Col. 451.

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Extent: 3 cu.ft. Date range: 1902-1938 Related materials Books by Mantle Fielding are located in the Printed Books and Periodicals department of the library. Correspondence with Eunice Chambers is found her papers, Col. 451. Creator: Mantle Fielding (1865-1941) Title: Papers Dates: 1902-1938 Call No.: Col. 207 Acc. No.: 76×126, 81×453 Quantity: 7 boxes, 1 volume Location: 19/B/1-3

The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Note: there are indexes available at this repository which give more details of box contents.

Correspondence from Lawrence Park to Mantle Fielding; Clippings, pictures, catalogs, and notes on American artists

Box 3

(letters: acc. no. 81×453.275-.436)

(notes on artists: acc. no. 81×453.437-.499)

Table of contents	Abstract Mantle Fielding, architect and authority on colonial American painting, published several books. The collection consists primarily of notes and photographs for two of those books.
Background note Scope and content Organization Administrative information Restrictions Provenance Additional descriptive information Related materials Notes Added entries Contact information Inventory Return to Winterthur Library homepage

	pictures of portraits by Thomas Sully			Box 1
	(acc. no. 81×453.1-.273)

	Thomas Sully papers, with proof pages from The Life and Works of Thomas Sully, clippings, comments, and extra pictures about and from the book			Box 2
	(acc. no. 81×453.274)

	European artists: pictures, pages from gallery catalogs, scrapbook with pictures			Box 4
	(acc. no. 81×453.500)

	Pictures of portraits of George Washington, with notes			Box 5
	(acc. no. 81×453.501-.691)

	printed material, pictures with notes and comments, engravings; Portraits of George Washington by unknown artists and of questionable attribution			Box 6
	(acc. no. 81×453.692-.872)

	proof pages of Life Portraits of Washington, with some clippings inserted; proof pages from Mantle Fielding			Box 7
	(acc. no. 81×453.873)

	proof copy of Catalogue of Engraved Work of David Edwin, with notes			Vol. Volume
	(acc. no. 76×126)