Memorial Hall Paintings
Overview
The collection currently on display consists of paintings and drawings almost exclusively, related to the Civil War period. All of the paintings and drawings in Memorial Hall reside in Annenberg Hall. Twelve of the fourteen paintings and drawings on the south wall depict Civil War soldiers. The most popular pieces include a portrait of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw whose leadership of the first black regiment in the northern states, the 54th Massachusetts volunteers, is depicted in the film Glory and the largest portrait in the collection, depicting the brothers George Foster Hodges and William Townsend Hodges (left). The North Wall reflects the Civil War period through portraiture of benefactors, political and academic leaders of the era.
Early photographs and documents reveal that at the time of the dedication of the Great Hall in 1874, the room was decorated with more than fifty-five portrait paintings and that by the end of the century the number had increased to eighty-three and included almost all of Harvard’s collection of portraits. By the 1930’s, a large number of portraits had left Memorial Hall for new buildings. At the same time, other portraits were being given to the University, often by friends and families of Civil War soldiers.
Memorial Hall Paintings
Overview
The collection currently on display consists of paintings and drawings almost exclusively, related to the Civil War period. All of the paintings and drawings in Memorial Hall reside in Annenberg Hall. Twelve of the fourteen paintings and drawings on the south wall depict Civil War soldiers. The most popular pieces include a portrait of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw whose leadership of the first black regiment in the northern states, the 54th Massachusetts volunteers, is depicted in the film Glory and the largest portrait in the collection, depicting the brothers George Foster Hodges and William Townsend Hodges (left). The North Wall reflects the Civil War period through portraiture of benefactors, political and academic leaders of the era.
Early photographs and documents reveal that at the time of the dedication of the Great Hall in 1874, the room was decorated with more than fifty-five portrait paintings and that by the end of the century the number had increased to eighty-three and included almost all of Harvard’s collection of portraits. By the 1930’s, a large number of portraits had left Memorial Hall for new buildings. At the same time, other portraits were being given to the University, often by friends and families of Civil War soldiers.