Lectern Box: The Rock of LibertyMid-19th century7 1/2 × 14 1/4 × 10 1/2"Paint on wood, with applied printed pagesGift of Ralph Esmerian2013.1.2301547784005P1.2001.86Artist unidentifiedContainersThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain. http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24596United StatesThree Dimensional Works
Mayflower descendant Richard Warren published his patriotic poem "The Rock of Liberty" at a time of growing intolerance toward immigrant groups who were crowding cities and infiltrating insular interior communities. Warren’s words, written while he was president of the Pilgrim Society, celebrate the history of Plymouth Rock and the stalwart Pilgrim Fathers. In 1855, the poem was set to music by James G. Clark and published in Boston by Henry Tolman. It is not known whether his intention was a reminder of the liberties upon which the nation was founded, or an expression of distaste for the newcomers. Nevertheless, it was popular during the Civil War era to drum up patriotic sentiment and may have been one means of encouraging support for the Union cause. In this unique lectern box, the poem is applied to the surface of a trompe-l’oeil book that rests atop a quilted baize cloth with heavy tassels at the front corners.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Lectern Box: The Rock of Liberty," exhibition copy for American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2020. Trompe-l’oeil gained popularity in American arts as a result of the vogue for “fancy,” decorative treatments that fooled the eye and stirred the imagination. This unique carved wooden box appears to be covered in a quilted baize cloth with heavy tassels at the front corners. A book on top lies open to a page, top corner turned down, with three stanzas of “The Rock of Liberty.” Completing the illusion, the page is actual printed paper applied to the wooden surface.
“The Rock of Liberty” is a patriotic poem written by Mayflower descendant Richard Warren, when he was president of the Pilgrim Society; his words celebrate the history of Plymouth Rock and the stalwart Pilgrim fathers. The poem was set to music in 1855 by James G. Clark and published in Boston by Henry Tolman. Over the next decade it was published several times by such companies as H. De Marsan, “dealer in songs, toy-books &c.,” who occupied various addresses on Chatham Street in lower Manhattan during the Civil War era. The tenor of the songs De Marsan published reflects the immigrant character of the neighborhood known as Five Points, from the German “Das Star Spangled Banner” to the plaintive “No Irish Need Apply.” Many of the broadsides are also highly patriotic during this inflammatory period when Irish and other immigrants in the neighborhood were most susceptible to being drafted into the war. “The Rock of Liberty” may have been a way of encouraging support of the Union cause.
Stacy C. Hollander, “Lectern Box: The Rock of Liberty,” exhibition label for Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander and Valérie Rousseau, curators. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orghttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24596http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24596http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24596P1.2001.8618301870 2013 1 23
Mayflower descendant Richard Warren published his patriotic poem "The Rock of Liberty" at a time of growing intolerance toward immigrant groups who were crowding cities and infiltrating insular interior communities. Warren’s words, written while he was president of the Pilgrim Society, celebrate the history of Plymouth Rock and the stalwart Pilgrim Fathers. In 1855, the poem was set to music by James G. Clark and published in Boston by Henry Tolman. It is not known whether his intention was a reminder of the liberties upon which the nation was founded, or an expression of distaste for the newcomers. Nevertheless, it was popular during the Civil War era to drum up patriotic sentiment and may have been one means of encouraging support for the Union cause. In this unique lectern box, the poem is applied to the surface of a trompe-l’oeil book that rests atop a quilted baize cloth with heavy tassels at the front corners.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Lectern Box: The Rock of Liberty," exhibition copy for American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2020. Trompe-l’oeil gained popularity in American arts as a result of the vogue for “fancy,” decorative treatments that fooled the eye and stirred the imagination. This unique carved wooden box appears to be covered in a quilted baize cloth with heavy tassels at the front corners. A book on top lies open to a page, top corner turned down, with three stanzas of “The Rock of Liberty.” Completing the illusion, the page is actual printed paper applied to the wooden surface.
“The Rock of Liberty” is a patriotic poem written by Mayflower descendant Richard Warren, when he was president of the Pilgrim Society; his words celebrate the history of Plymouth Rock and the stalwart Pilgrim fathers. The poem was set to music in 1855 by James G. Clark and published in Boston by Henry Tolman. Over the next decade it was published several times by such companies as H. De Marsan, “dealer in songs, toy-books &c.,” who occupied various addresses on Chatham Street in lower Manhattan during the Civil War era. The tenor of the songs De Marsan published reflects the immigrant character of the neighborhood known as Five Points, from the German “Das Star Spangled Banner” to the plaintive “No Irish Need Apply.” Many of the broadsides are also highly patriotic during this inflammatory period when Irish and other immigrants in the neighborhood were most susceptible to being drafted into the war. “The Rock of Liberty” may have been a way of encouraging support of the Union cause.
Stacy C. Hollander, “Lectern Box: The Rock of Liberty,” exhibition label for Self-Taught Genius: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander and Valérie Rousseau, curators. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org