January E-Bulletin


Special Exhibition

"Scenes & Sitters: Paintings from the Collection," February 1 through May 2, 2015.
Featuring more than 30 rarely displayed, original works including portraits by Gilbert Stuart and Joseph Blackburn and series of paintings commissioned in 1920 for a publication New England Old and New, displayed together for the first time.
The exhibition is generously sponsored by Cordage Commerce Center with additional support from the LeBaron Foundation and Charles and Jan Tarbox in memory of Brooks Barnes

Upcoming Events

February Kid's Week

February 16 - 19, 10 a.m. to Noon. Craft sessions for children, Monday through Thursday including making dream-catchers, quill pen writing, drawing a self-portrait (see article at right for more details).

 

"Establishment Day" with the New Plimmoth Gard
February 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local reenactors representing Pilgrim militia will demonstrate period drill maneuvers. Children are welcome to participate in "broomstick" drill, see and handle replica objects and learn stories of the Colony's first settlers.

 

Opening Reception, "Scenes & Sitters: Paintings from the Collection"
February 21, 5 to 7 p.m. Join us in celebrating the opening of our new exhibition.

April Morning Lectures
Each Wednesday morning in April. Coffee at 9:30, Lecture at 10 a.m. Mark your calendars!

April Kid's Week
April 20 - 23. Events for children each day, Monday - Thursday, at 2 p.m. including magic shows, nature programs and music! Watch for more information by mail and e-mail.
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Pilgrim Hall Museum
75 Court St, Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 746-1620

Hours of operation: 9:30-4:30, seven days a week through December 30. We close for Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and the month of January.

 

Admission fees are $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens (62+), $5 for children 6-15, and $25 for a family (2 adults with their children aged 6-15). Residents of Plymouth, Massachusetts, are admitted free as are members of the Pilgrim Society.

"Scenes & Sitters: Paintings from the Collection," A New Exhibition at Pilgrim Hall Museum, February 1 - May 2, 2015 

 

Col. John Trumbull by Gilbert Stuart and John Trumbull
"Scenes & Sitters: Paintings from the Collection" features more than thirty rarely displayed, original paintings from Pilgrim Hall Museum's permanent collection. The centerpiece of the exhibit is the newly restored portrait of Gen. John Winslow, the great-grandson of Mayflower passenger Edward Winslow. The portrait was done in 1756 by the artist Joseph Blackburn, the leading portraitist in Boston during the late 1750s and early 1760s until surpassed by his apprentice John Singleton Copley.

 

Other portraits in the exhibit include artist Christian Gullagher's 1790s portrait of John Davis and his wife Ellen Watson Davis, Cephas Giovanni Thompson's 1830s portrait of Major Judah Alden, Ethan Allen Greenwood's 1813 portrait of Ephraim Spooner, and the truly unique portrait of the American artist John Trumbull painted by both Gilbert Stuart and Trumbull himself.

 

Botkin's "Landing of the Pilgrims"

Fifteen history paintings depicting episodes from early Massachusetts history will be displayed alongside the portraits. Thirteen of the paintings were commissioned by the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston for a commemorative publication called New England Old and New. Ten of these were painted by the important twentieth-century artist Henry Botkin (1896-1983). Botkin went on to become a leading abstract painter, helped by a close friendship with his first cousins George and Ira Gershwin. This is the first time all thirteen illustrations have been displayed together.

 

Many of the paintings on display in this exhibit have rarely been seen by the public. As visitors to the exhibit will see for themselves, paintings age over time, and many are in need of conservation. By showing the need and the potential results, like the restored portrait of Gen. John Winslow, it is hoped that visitors will appreciate the role and responsibility Pilgrim Hall Museum has for preserving and maintaining these remarkable works of art.


The exhibition is generously sponsored by Cordage Commerce Center with additional support from the LeBaron Foundation and Charles and Jan Tarbox in memory of Brooks Barnes
 
 

Pilgrim Hall Museum will host a reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibition on Saturday, February 21 from 5 - 7 p.m. The reception is free of charge.

 

The exhibition will be on display in the PIDC gallery at Pilgrim Hall Museum from February 1 to May 2, 2015. Those who wish to set up a special group tour of the exhibition should contact Director of Visitor Services Ann Young at 508-746-1620 x.4. For more information about the exhibition in general, contact Curator Stephen O'Neill at 508-746-1620 x.5.

February Kids Week

 

Pilgrim Hall Museum is pleased to announce a series of February Vacation family activities from Monday, February 16 through Thursday, February 19. The programs are geared towards children and families and feature hands-on, fun craft activities with a historical theme.

 

Each day, February 16-19, there will be crafting activities for children from 10 a.m. to Noon at Pilgrim Hall Museum. These activities will include quill pen writing, making bead necklaces, drawing a self-portrait, basket weaving and making dream-catchers, among other games and crafts.

 

On Monday, February 16, the museum will host special guests, the New Plimmoth Gard. This group of local historical reenactors portrays Plymouth Colony militia. The day, "Establishment Day" marks the anniversary of the establishment of the original Plymouth militia. The reenactors will perform drill demonstrations with pikes and muskets and there will be opportunities for children try a bit of 17th century drill using broomsticks. Demonstrations and proclamations will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

On Tuesday, February 17, the children's craft program will feature a special reading by Deanna Nealey of her recently published children's book, "Genghis Swan," telling the amusing story of Plymouth's own cantankerous waterfowl who once "ruled" the Eel River. The crafts from 10 to Noon on Tuesday will all be swan themed.

 

Students and children under 18 years of age are admitted free to all February Family events. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

"Establishment Day" with the New Plimmoth Gard, February 16

On February 16, Pilgrim Hall Museum and the New Plimmoth Gard will join in observing "Establishment Day." The Gard is a group of local historical reenactors portraying the militia of Plymouth Colony circa 1621-1640. "Establishment Day" marks the anniversary of the establishment of the original Plymouth militia and the election of Myles Standish as captain on February 17, 1621. The reenactors will perform drill demonstrations with pikes and muskets and there will be opportunities for children try a bit of 17th century drill using broomsticks. Demonstrations will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.