Berks County Almshouse, 1878

1878

Charles C. Hofmann

Artist, American, c. 1820 - 1882

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Information on this painting can be found in the Gallery publication American Naive Paintings, pages 204-205, which is available as a free PDF https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/research/publications/pdfs/American%20Naive%20Painting.pdf
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Jacob Hartgen, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1878-1925.[1] (Bert Frame, Reading, Pennsylvania), by whom sold in 1947 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch; gift to NGA, 1953.
[1] The artist was on several occasions during the 1870's a tenant of the almshouse depicted in this painting. Bert Frame, in a letter of 19 May 1947 to Edgar Garbisch (in NGA curatorial file), wrote of Hofmann that "It was his wont, on visiting days, to approach visitors, and beg a few pennies to help put something in his bottle', for which he will paint for you, a pretty picture.' Jacob Hartgen [1843-1925] was the baker there, at this time, and he probably contributed his bit, many times, as he not only obtained the picture which you have, but two religious pictures, and a portrait of Mr. Hartgen's wife...(all painted on tin)."

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1950

  • American Processional, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, 1950, no. 281.

1961

  • 101 Masterpieces of American Primitive Painting from the Collection of E.W. and B.C. Garbisch, traveling exh. by the Amer. Federation of Arts, New York, 1961-1964, no. 99, color repro. First venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.

1967

  • National Gallery Loan Exhibition, Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1967, no. 15.

1968

  • Pennsylvania Almshouse Painters--Charles Hofmann, John Rasmussen and Louis Mader, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, Williamsburg, 1968, unpaginated and unnumbered (cat. by Thomas Armstrong).

1971

  • Twenty-five Folk Artists: Their Lives and Work, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1971, no cat.

2010

  • American Naive Paintings from the Garbisch Collection at the National Gallery of Art, Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia, 2010, no cat.

Bibliography

1970

  • American Paintings and Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1970: 68, repro.

1972

  • Rothman, David J. "Our Brothers' Keepers." American Heritage 24 (December): 40-41, color repro. with long caption.

1980

  • Armstrong, Thomas. "Charles C. Hofman." In Lipman, Jean, and Tom Armstrong, eds. American Folk Painters of Three Centuries Exh. cat. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1980: 103, 106, 108, 109 (for related Almshouse works).

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1980: 176, repro.

1992

  • Chotner, Deborah, with contributions by Julie Aronson, Sarah D. Cash, and Laurie Weitzenkorn. American Naive Paintings. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1992: 204-205, color repro. 203.

1996

  • Donahue, M. Patricia. Nursing, The Finest Art: An Illustrated History. St Louis, 1996: 226-227, color repro.

Inscriptions

lower right: 1878-Charles Hofman [sic], Painter.; upper center, on banner: VIRTUE, LIBERTY & INDEPENDENCE!; upper center, just above banner: PENSYLVANIA; lower center: VIEWS OF THE BUILDINGS & SURROUNDINGS / OF THE BERKS-COUNTY-ALMS-HOUSE. 1878.; along bottom of small scenes, clockwise beginning at lower left: Tenant-house No. II.; School-house.; Cemetery; Tenant hous [sic] No. I.; Western-View of the new Hospital.; Tenant-house No. III.; Kitchen-supplying spring, & Reservoir:; Grein barn:

Wikidata ID

Q20188838

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