Artfire Featured Collections

Artfire members are encouraged to create featured collections of other members handcrafted items. A member picks favorite pieces from different artisans, puts the collection together, and publishes it.

You can search Artfire and click on the Curated Collections link to see recent and past collections. You may enjoy seeing what some of the artisans choose as their favorites.

Three of the recent featured collections in order of appearance are Grey Paradise, Hot Apple Cider, and In Tune for Mozart. Which title appeals to you? Go see what the member has collected. Have fun.

Jennie Augusta Brownscombe: Colonial Revival

The First Thanksgiving

Jennie Augusta Brownscombe was born in 1850 in Honesdale, Pennsylvania and was raised in a log cabin. Her mother was descended from a pilgrim that arrived on the Mayflower. In 1868, she started teaching, simultaneously she designed calendars and greeting cards. She also created illustrations that appeared in Scribner’s and Harper’s magazines.

After moving to New York in 1871, Jennie Brownscombe studied at the National Academy of Design and the Cooper Institute School of Design for Women. She was one of the founders of the Art Students League of New York in 1875 and a teacher at the institution. She relocated to France in 1882; while there she studied with Henry Mosler at his studios, which were situated in Brittany and Paris. From 1886 to 1895 Brownscombe enjoyed her winters in Rome. Her work was exhibited in London and Rome.

She is renowned for historical genre or history painting in particular the colonial revival. The colonial revival encompassed ideas about preserving the historical heritage, as well as advancing democracy, a simple life, morality, the value of family, and good taste. Jennie Augusta Brownscombe painted scenes depicting colonial America and the Revolutionary War. 

The First Thanksgiving shown in this post is probably her most well known piece. She painted it in 1914; it was printed in Life magazine. This painting is currently housed at the Museum of Pilgrim Treasures in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The art work of Brownscombe is part of other major collectanea such as the Newark Museum.

She was a member of the National Arts Club of New York and the Municipal Art Society. She died in 1931.

Sunday Morning Styles Art Poster Print by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, 32x24
Hope and Memories Giclee Poster Print by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, 12x16

Thanksgiving: Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell was a well known American illustrated. He painted numerous Thanksgiving paintings. The most acclaimed Thanksgiving illustrations he created are The Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom From Want, and Freedom From Fear. Rockwell desired to do something patriotic concerning World War II and couldn't serve in the armed forces because of his age. He was enkindled to create these paintings because of President Franklin Roosevelt's speech also called The Four Freedoms. The President said these were the principles for universal rights.

These paintings were published by the Saturday Evening Post on 02/20/43, 02/27/43, 03/06/43, and 03/13/43 respectively. Each print of a painting in the magazine had an attendant essay. The author's of these essays in order were: Booth Tarkington, Will Durant, Carlos Bulosan, and Stephen Vincent Benét.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury urged the sale of war bonds by showing originals of The Four Freedoms in many U.S. cities. The title of this exhibition was The Four Freedoms War Bond Show. This tour began at Hecht's, which was located in Washington, D.C., where it was transmitted over radio; Lowell Thomas was the broadcaster. Justice William O. Douglas of the Supreme Court was the principal speaker.

The publics response was astounding and proved that the paintings stimulated the feelings of the American people about freedom. This reaction encouraged The Office of War Information to see the effect of the paintings in conveying ideas and emotions concerning freedom. The public wrote 60,000 letters to the artist, which included a letter from the President. Over a million people saw the paintings during the tour. The war years were reduced by the numerous amount of war bonds sold during this tour.

Thus, though they had originally rejected these art works, OWI then had 2.5 million copies printed. The copies were all attended by an essay from The Office of War Information.

Norman Rockwell The Four Freedoms 750pc Panoramic Puzzle The Saturday Evening Post-1943
Freedom of Speech by Norman Rockwell Art Print(1938 / 1978) , 8.3/4 X 11.1/4 inches
2008 Topps American Heritage Baseball Cards # 66 Norman Rockwell ( Four Freedoms )( Artist ) Trading Card in Protective Screw Down Display

Article   Norman Rockwell: Christmas