CLOSE UP: Original 1897 Cornerstone at the Worcester Art Museum

Original 1897 Cornerstone- Worcester Art Museum

     The cornerstone of the original 1897 building of the Worcester Art Museum can still be seen in the narrow corridor behind the PDP gallery. This stone block purportedly contains a small time capsule in it's center. However, an inventory of it's contents (1890's publications, photos, etc.) shows nothing so important that it would justify destroying the stone to retrieve it.

CLOSE UP: Da Vinci, Durer, Rembrandt medallions at Worcester Art Museum

da Vinci, Durer, Rembrant medallions at Worcester Art Museum

     When the Worcester Art Museum was first built in 1897, a series of eight carved stone medallions chiseled with the names of famous artists ran along the roofline. Today, only three of these medallions are still visible (and only from higher up, viewed through a window).

Then and Now: 3rd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 2014

3rd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 2014

Then and Now: 

3rd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum

1905 and 2014 

by Travis Simpkins 

3rd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1905

3rd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

CLOSE UP: Antique Pedestals at the Worcester Art Museum, 1905-1914

CLOSE UP: Stone Pedestals- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 1914

     In old photos of the Worcester Art Museum, especially the century-old views, various polished stone pedestals can be seen tucked off to the sides of the gallery spaces, supporting the collection's sculptural works. Above are two enlargements of photos from 1914 and 1905, showing two variations of style. I had often wondered what became of those pedestals, many of which seem like works of Art on their own. I just assumed they had been damaged, decades ago, and likely thrown away.

     Recently, the glint of polished stone coming from a darkened corner of the museum basement led me to this pleasant view: Mismatched sections of antique pedestals, broken and collecting dust... but not discarded.

Stone Pedestals- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

Then and Now: Original 1897 Building- Worcester Art Museum, 1900 and 2014

Original 1897 Building- Worcester Art Museum, 1900 and 2014

Then and Now: 

Original 1897 Building- Worcester Art Museum

1900 and 2014 

by Travis Simpkins 

Original 1897 Building- Worcester Art Museum, 1900

Original 1897 Building- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

CLOSE UP: Worcester Art Museum, 1914

Third Floor- Worcester Art Museum, 1914

     A close look at the above 1914 photo of the Third Floor East Gallery shows John Singer Sargent's "Lady Warwick and Her Son", a recent acquisition, purchased in 1913, honorably displayed and roped-off across the way... and an even closer look reveals a cast of Charles Y. Harvey's 1912 "Turtle Boy" sculpture, an infamous Worcester emblem, with the sea turtle and boy's leg peeking out beside the desk just outside the doorway:

CLOSE UP: Third Floor- Worcester Art Museum, 1914

     Here are some sketches I did of the Turtle Boy statue atop the Burnside Fountain, from different angles, In situ on Worcester Common behind City Hall:

Burnside Fountain (Turtle Boy), 1912. by Travis Simpkins

Then and Now: 2nd Floor (Salisbury Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2014 (Knights!)

2nd Floor (Salisbury Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2014

Then and Now: 

2nd Floor (Salisbury Hall)- Worcester Art Museum

Knights!

1910 and 2014 

by 

Travis Simpkins

2nd Floor (Salisbury Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910

Knights! 2nd Floor (Salisbury Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

Then and Now: 3rd Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum, 1914 and 2014

3rd Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum, 1914 and 2014

Then and Now: 

3rd Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum

1914 and 2014

by

Travis Simpkins

3rd Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum, 1914

3rd Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

Then and Now: Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1914 and 2014

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1914 and 2014

Then and Now: 

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum

1914 and 2014

by

Travis Simpkins

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1914

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

Then and Now: 2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2014

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2014

Then and Now: 

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum

1910 and 2014

by

Travis Simpkins

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2014

Then and Now: Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1913 and 2013

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1913 and 2013

Then and Now: 

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum

1913 and 2013

by

Travis Simpkins

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1913

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2013

Then and Now: Second Floor (Main Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2013

Second Floor (Main Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2013

Then and Now: 

Second Floor (Main Hall)- Worcester Art Museum 

1910 and 2013

by

Travis Simpkins

Second Floor (Main Hall)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910

Then and Now: 2nd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2013

2nd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2013

Then and Now: 

2nd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum 

1910 and 2013

by

Travis Simpkins

2nd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910

2nd Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2013

Then and Now: 2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2013

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910 and 2013

Then and Now: 

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum

1910 and 2013.

by

Travis Simpkins

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1910

2nd Floor (West Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2013

Then and Now: Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 2013

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 2013

Then and Now:

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum

1905 and 2013

by

Travis Simpkins

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 1905

Third Floor (East Gallery)- Worcester Art Museum, 2013

Then and Now: Third Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 2013.

3rd Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum, 1905 and 2013

Then and Now:

Third Floor Galleries- Worcester Art Museum 

1905 and 2013
by
Travis Simpkins

3rd Floor Galleries, Worcester Art Museum, 1905

3rd Floor Galleries, Worcester Art Museum, 2013

Greetings from WAM! Postcards of the Worcester Art Museum, circa early 1900's

Worcester Art Museum postcard, early 1900's

Worcester Art Museum postcard, early 1900's

Worcester Art Museum postcard, early 1900's

Worcester Art Museum postcard, early 1900's

Worcester Art Museum: The Original 1897 Building, Designed by Stephen Earle

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 1st floor.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 2nd floor, main hall

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 2nd floor, auditorium

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 2nd floor, sculpture gallery

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 3rd floor

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 3rd floor, paintings

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building. 3rd floor, paintings

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.

Worcester Art Museum-1897 Building.