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Symposiums and Study Trips > Baltimore, MD
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BALTIMORE: FILLED WITH COLLECTIONS AND FABULOUS ARCHITECTURE,
March 10-13, 2005
One of the reasons the Trust is gathering in Baltimore for its spring symposium, “The Best of Baltimore: Formal and Fancy,” is the exhibit now at the Maryland Historical Society, American Fancy, Exuberance in the Arts: 1790-1840. Another is the excellent decorative arts collections at the MDHS and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Yet another is the well-researched house museums. Last but by far not least, is the enthusiasm of its collectors and their gracious hospitality.
Curated by Sumpter Priddy, III, American Fancy brings together, for the first time, many of the finest objects of the 19th century artistic movement known as “Fancy” from some of the nation’s leading museums and private collections. Detailing a previously unexplored cultural and historic movement, American Fancy captivates viewers with more than 200 examples of the visually stimulating, ornately patterned, and engaging fine arts and domestic objects embodying the “Fancy” style. Characterized by light, color, motion novelty, variety, and wit, the style identifies its relationship with important cultural developments and beliefs in early 19th century America. Fancy objects in the exhibit include furniture, ceramics, textiles, metals, glass, paintings, and prints purposefully designed to stimulate the senses, stir the emotion and please the eye. Baltimore’s tradition and collections of early painted furniture makes it the perfect place to explore “Fancy.” “The Best of Baltimore: Formal and Fancy,” will visit the Baltimore Museum of Art where dedication to and collecting of American decorative arts has been in the forefront since its inception. Spanning three floors, the BMA’s historic John Russell Pope Building showcases elegant installations of 18th –20th century American paintings, sculpture, furniture, silver, textiles, folk art and period rooms from six Maryland historic houses.
Established in 1729 to serve the economic needs of 18th century Maryland farmers, the town of Baltimore grew and prospered. It played a crucial role in the War of 1812, when soldiers, stationed at Fort McHenry, successfully held off a British attack on Baltimore. That victory for Baltimore was commemorated in a poem by Francis Scott Key and is now our national anthem. When the war ended in early 1815, Baltimoreans resumed their vigorous foreign trade efforts and Baltimore grew into the second largest city in the United States. Baltimore's overseas trade was principally with the Caribbean Islands and South America, regions undergoing economic and social changes. At the same time, the American frontier was pushing even farther west, threatening to leave Baltimore behind in its economic wake. The State of Maryland concentrated its efforts on completing the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, designed to link the Potomac and Ohio River valleys, but the city of Baltimore supported an overland link in the form of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Although the two competed for routes and freight, to the eventual ruin of the canal and the financial embarrassment of the state, Baltimore's railroad reached Cumberland in 1842 and, by 1874, stretched to Chicago. Some firsts for Baltimore include in 1784, first U.S. balloon ascension in this country by Edward Warren in vicinity of the area now occupied by the Washington Monument, Mount Vernon Place; in 1815, first existing makers of silverware in this country, Samuel Kirk; and, in 1816, first U.S. manufacturer of gas, Rembrandt Peale! Since 1600, Baltimore waterways have been a passage for ships carrying commercial cargo and new citizens. As the location where Baltimore City was founded nearly 300 years ago, the Inner Harbor has been at the city’s heart. Since its transformation in the 1980s from wharves to a modern, world-class, poplar waterfront area with dozens of retail stores and restaurants, it has been called the crown jewel of Baltimore. Our elegant host hotel, Harbor Court Hotel, is located on the Inner Harbor with easy access to all that is offered there. Join Trust members for this important meeting in Baltimore.
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