View of Henry Z. Van Reed's Farm, Papermill, and Surroundings

Date1872

Artist Charles C. Hofmann (ca. 1820-1882)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Berks County

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed 39 x 54 1/2in. (99.1 x 138.4cm) and Framed: 40 7/8 x 56 1/4 x 2in. (103.8 x 142.9 x 5.1cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1967.102.2

DescriptionThe pictorial composition is contained within a rounded-corner rectangle painted on the canvas, leaving a painted margin all around. In the lower part of this margin is an elaborately lettered inscription on either side of an eagle with an American flag-inspired shield. In the pictorial composition proper, a bright blue sky with vivid pink clouds fills the upper half of the picture space. Below, in the distance, are brightly painted rolling hills, checkered with varied-colored fields in varying states of harvest. In the lefthand middle ground, a road runs forward, curving from left to right through the foreground of the picture, and running back through a covered bridge into the distance at right. In the foreground to left of center, a second road runs into the first, leading in from the distant background to right of center. Near the juncture of these two roads is the confluence of two creeks with a dam visible on each. A 3 1/2-story white frame house with green shutters forms a focal point near the center of the composition. Many other structures including apparent dwellings as well as industrial buildings are visible scattered along both roads in the left half of the composition. A six-mule team hitched to a loaded wagon is visible along the lefthand road and in front of them two men talk, one with a whip apparently being the drover of the team. A number of other figures in groups of twos and threes are scattered throughout, and and cows wade in the stream in two places. Large boulders are in the foreground.
Modern replacement 1 1/4-inch flat hardwood frame, painted dark brown.Label TextHenry Z. Van Reed, believed to be the man in the lower left of the painting conversing with the mule driver, reportedly offered Hofmann a quart of whiskey and five dollars for this portrait of Van Reed's property.

Hofmann is remembered as the earliest of three Pennsylvania almshouse painters, the others being John Rasmussen (1828-1895) and Louis Mader (1842-1898). All painted the various almshouses that sporadically sheltered them. Hofmann's painting skill suggests that he was an experienced ornamental painter before he came to America in 1860. He died in the Berks County almshouse in 1882.Inscription(s)Painted in the lower margin below the pictorial composition is "View of henry Z. Van Reed's Farm, Papermill, and Surrounding's in/Lower Heidelberg-Township, Berks Co. Pa." In the lower left corner of the pictorial composition is painted, "taken from the North-East Side/on 5th of October 1872." Below that, and slightly to the right, is painted, "C. Hofmann Painter." The date "1872" is painted over the entry of the covered bridge in the painting.ProvenanceCharles Raymond Van Reed, Penn Side, Pa.; James G. Pennypacker, Reading, Pa.; Peter H. Tillou, Litchfield, Conn.; M. Knoedler & Co., New York, NY.