Berks County Alms House

DateProbably 1880-1881.

Attributed to John Rasmussen (1828-1895)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Berks County

MediumOil on Zinc-coated tin or tin coated sheet iron.

DimensionsOther (unframed): 31 x 39in. (78.7 x 99.1cm)
Framed: 35 7/8 x 44 x 2 3/4in. (91.1 x 111.8 x 7cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1960.102.2

DescriptionOval landscape and genre view of the Almshouse in the center of the painting. This oval medallion is surrounded by a gold line and vignettes of other scenes of the same place. Directly above the oval is an American eagle atop four flags and a shield with rays of light beaming upward from behind him. In the same panel to the right of the eagle is a stone cottage with smoke pouring out of the chimney, and to the left of the eagle is a yellow stucco barn. In the upper right corner is a winter scene of a spring house (or well house) with a lake and leafless trees covered with snow. In the lower right corner is a view of a small valley and red house in foreground. Directly below the main oval is a sandy colored area with a space of dark blue with an inscription lettered on in white letters. In the lower left corner is a stone cottage with three piles of logs in front of it. In the upper left corner is a view of the back side of the main almshouse. The center scene is dominated by the red main building of the almshouse whose steeple rises above the line of mountains in the distance. Left of the main building is a series of barns. In the foreground in front of main buildings is a smaller red building, a factory like bulding, carefully kept kitchen gardens, and an exercise yard for inmates. In the foreground is a cow pasture. Entering from the lower center of oval is a delivery wagon with the words, "Baker, Reading/Pa." on it. Other people and carts travel along that road.
Modern replacement 3-inch molded cyma recta frame, painted black.Label TextJohn Rasmussen painted at least nine variations of this scene, incorporating only slight variations from one to another and apparently basing all upon one of Charles Hofmann's 1878 depictions of the Berks County Almshouse. Hofmann's work probably hung in the institution when Rasmussen was first admitted there in 1879.

Other versions of the scene that are inscribed identify the almshouse properties as (clockwise from lower left) tenant house no. II; western view of the new hospital; grain barn; tenant house no. I; kitchen, supplying spring, and reservoir; and tenant house no. III and cemetery.

Rasmussen was born in Germany and immigrated to America in 1865. Reading, Pennsylvania, directories list him as a painter or fresco painter between 1867-1879. Before he became too enfeebled to paint, Rasmussen executed portraits, baptismal certificates, still lifes, and a few landscapes in addition to his versions of the Almshouse.

He died there on June 16, 1896.The bright colors and crisp delineation are characteristic of Rasmussen's work depict a neat, orderly society that seems inconsistent with the existence suggested by the facts of his life.Inscription(s)Painted in the cartouche at bottom center is "Views of the Buildings & Surroundings of the/Berks-County-Almshouse." The words "BAKERY" and "READING/PA." are painted on the wagon in the bottom of the central medallion.ProvenanceM. Knoedler & Co., New York, NY and Robert Carlen, Philadelphia, Pa.