Family Pledge, 19th century

Not on View

Medium

graphite and gray wash on wove paper

Dimensions

image: 24.77 × 38.42 cm (9 3/4 × 15 1/8 in.)

sheet: 29.21 × 43.82 cm (11 1/2 × 17 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Corcoran Collection (Bequest of Bessie Potter Vonnoh Keyes)

Accession Number

2015.19.856

Artists / Makers

Joseph E. Baker (artist) American, 1837 - 1914

Image Use

This image is in the public domain.
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Inscription

lower right in graphite: J.E. Baker del

text in graphite: FROM THE FOUNTAINS OF TEMPERANCE FLOW MANY BLESSINGS / HOLY BIBLE / STUDY GODS WORD FOR SALVATI[ON] / INDUSTRY & CONTENTMENT / HEALTH HAPPINESS / HONESTY, FRUGALITY / PLEDGE / FILIAL-PIETY. RELIGION / BY FAMILY Union blessings come / Then fill the goblet to the brim, / With water pure and bright, / With water free and sparkling clear, / It gives a better light. / Then ruby wine or rich champagne / And comes from Heaven above / It is the beverage made by Him / Who rules by deeds of love. / FAMILY PLEDGE / Believing that the use of Intoxicating Liquors as a / beverage, destroys health, promotes vice & is Contrary to the Word of God we hereby agree / that by God's assistance we will abstain from the use of all INTOXICATING LIQUORS as a / beverage & from the use of TOBACCO & PROFANE LANGUAGE & will not manufacture or traffic in LIQUORS / or TOBACCO & that we will discontenance such manufacture, traffic & use by others. / PARENTS. / CHILDREN. / CHILDREN.

Provenance

Bessie Potter Vonnoh Keyes, New York; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1955; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Corcoran Gallery of Art
Vonnoh, Bessie Potter

Bibliography

1983: Simmons, Linda Crocker and with the assistance of Adrianne J. Humphrey, et al. American Drawings, Watercolors, Pastels, and Collages in the Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1983: p. 97, no. 629.