{"id":536,"date":"2020-01-18T19:03:59","date_gmt":"2020-01-18T19:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/?p=536"},"modified":"2020-01-18T19:27:19","modified_gmt":"2020-01-18T19:27:19","slug":"concord-museum-and-worcester-art-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/?p=536","title":{"rendered":"CONCORD MUSEUM AND WORCESTER ART MUSEUM"},"content":{"rendered":"

BEYOND MIDNIGHT: PAUL REVERE\u00a0REVEALS THE CREATIVE FORCE OF A GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

John Singleton Copley,\u00a0Paul Revere, 1768, Oil on canvas, Gift of Joseph W. Revere, William B. Revere and Edward H. R. Revere, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 30.781, photograph \u00a9 2019 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Exhibition will be on view at the Worcester Art Museum and the Concord Museum, offering\u00a0new insights on,\u00a0and artistic experiences\u00a0of, this central figure in U.S. history<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Worcester, MA & Concord, MA\u2014In February 2020, the Concord Museum and the Worcester Art Museum will jointly present\u00a0Beyond Midnight: Paul Revere, an exhibition that provides a revolutionary perspective on the artistic production of this important American patriot. Organized by the American Antiquarian Society and drawing on its unparalleled collection of Paul Revere materials, as well as major artworks and objects from other collections, the exhibition will show the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of this early American artisan and his impact on the social, economic, and political life of the United States. The exhibition will be on view concurrently in Worcester and Concord from February 15 through June 7, 2020.\u00a0\u00a0To see the full exhibition, visitors are encouraged to visit both museums. When paying admission at one museum, visitors will receive a \u201ctwo for one\u201d voucher to use at the other location.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond Midnight\u00a0is structured around four themes, embracing both the figure of Revere (1735-1818) that is well known\u2014that of the Revolutionary War hero\u2014and the wider range of his artistic and commercial experiences that have often received less attention. In doing so, it charts the development of the mythology around Revere, which ultimately diminished his recognition as an inventive artisan who was adept at \u201ctechnology transfer,\u201d applying the concepts and tools from one area of work to another. The exhibition will also place Revere within the larger context of class, consumption, and production in the 18th-century American Colonies, and explore the incredible network of commercial relationships\u2014on both sides of the Revolution\u2014that helped foster his business. The exhibition includes more than\u00a0100\u00a0exceptional objects across the two venues. Two of the four themes of the exhibition will be presented principally at the Concord Museum:\u00a0Revolutionary Revere\u00a0and\u00a0Revere the Legend. The other two themes,\u00a0Revere the Maker\u00a0and\u00a0Revere\u2019s Network, will be explored primarily at the Worcester Art Museum.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs is so often the case with figures from history, the reality of Paul Revere\u2019s life is much more complicated, and much more interesting, than our sometimes one-dimensional view through the lens of his role as a war hero,\u201d said Matthias Waschek, the C. Jean and Myles McDonough Director of the Worcester Art Museum. \u201cWe are excited to present this exhibition to New England audiences in collaboration with the Concord Museum, and with organizational support from the Worcester-based American Antiquarian Society. The exhibition continues our work over the last few years to reveal the often-overlooked social and political elements that infuses art and artifacts, and to engage our audiences in thinking about how an object\u2019s beauty and its history are intertwined.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Longfellow first depicted Paul Revere racing through the countryside carrying his midnight alarm, he hoped to awaken his contemporaries\u2019 conscience to the fact that as long as slavery existed, the American revolution was unfinished and that individual sacrifice and heroics were called for again to ensure our country lived up to its founding ideals,\u201d said Tom Putnam, Edward W. Kane Executive Director Concord Museum.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThrough this engaging new exhibit, we look forward to examining Revere\u2019s life and revolutionary career and to consider how it informs our history and our times.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Revolutionary Revere\u00a0(Concord Museum) examines Paul Revere\u2019s work during the Revolutionary War, later immortalized in popular American memory by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow\u2019s 1861 poem\u00a0Paul Revere\u2019s Ride. But Revere\u2019s role as a Patriot and revolutionary began earlier than his midnight ride in 1775, such as with his 1770 prints detailing the Boston Massacre, a trigger for the subsequent war. During this period, Revere produced or collaborated on many projects focused on increasing anti-British sentiment, like his engraving\u00a0A\u00a0view of part of the town of Boston in New-England and British ships of war landing their troops!\u00a0(1770) or his writing for papers like\u00a0Mass. Spy or Thomas’s Boston Journal\u00a0(July 7, 1774). Revere himself was also captured by artists of the period, such as with a portrait print by Charles Balthazar and Julien\u00a0Fevret\u00a0de\u00a0Saint-Me\u0301min\u00a0from 1801. The print shows an aged Revere in profile, looking more like an elder statesman than an artist-revolutionary. Also on view at Concord are other objects connected with Revere\u2019s history, including the famed lantern (c. 1770) that was hung in the Old North Church as a signal from Revere, John Hancock\u2019s trunk (c. 1775) once protected from the British troops by Revere while the battle was raging on Lexington Green, tea salvaged from the Boston Tea Party (1773), and a tea pot, made of pewter and wood (1750-1770), that belonged to\u00a0Crispus\u00a0Attucks, an African and Native journeyman who died at the Bloody Massacre.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Revere the Maker\u00a0(Worcester Art Museum) presents a wide array of objects that attest to\u00a0Revere\u2019s\u00a0skill and creativity as an artisan. His work as a silversmith, making commissioned serving pieces and sets, is well-known and for good reason: Revere\u2019s Sugar Urn (c. 1795), Fluted Teaspoons (c. 1785), Tankard (c. 1760-1770), and other, similar objects reflect both his refined design aesthetic and incredible talents as a metalworker. So, too, does the tea set created in 1773 for Dr. William Paine and Lois\u00a0Orne\u00a0of Worcester\u2014the largest single order ever recorded in Revere\u2019s ledgers.\u00a0\u00a0John Singleton Copley\u2019s famous portrait painting from 1768, showing a thoughtful Revere holding a silver teapot\u2014a visual reminder of his most famous occupation\u2014is also on view at the Worcester Art Museum.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This part of the exhibition takes viewers beyond these items, presenting an array of objects in different materials, demonstrating Revere\u2019s diversity. For example, several engraved copper plates, a set of shoe buckles (c. 1790), and a gold wedding ring (1773) and\u00a0Crowninshield\u00a0Mourning Ring (c. 1761) show his capacity for translating his artistic vision to other metals.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nor was Revere constrained by scale, or a focus on fine metals: in 1792, Revere established a foundry in Boston, which developed important innovations in the creation of bells. Ultimately, the foundry produced several hundred church bells, some as large as 2,500 pounds, while also transferring the techniques used to create bells in order to make cannons and other large-scale cast metal objects. A successful business that was eventually taken over by Revere\u2019s son and grandsons, the establishment of the foundry also represented an important milestone for the nascent United States: the local casting of church bells for New England churches, rather than having to import such items from England.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Commercially, Revere\u2019s success depended upon a wide network of contacts, a subject explored in depth in\u00a0Revere\u2019s Network\u00a0(Worcester Art Museum). Both before and after the Revolutionary War, Revere worked with nearly anyone capable of paying him, choosing to set aside his Patriot politics when Loyalists offered work. For example, the remarkable silver tea service and other items commissioned by the Paine family in 1773 were made with the same care and craftsmanship as other objects\u2014despite Paine\u2019s pro-British sympathies. He also created an extensive array of finely designed, decorated, and printed documents for clients: a\u00a0Bust of John Hancock\u00a0(March 1774) and\u00a0Bust of Samuel Adams\u00a0(April 1774); currency documents, including\u00a0Colony of Mass Bay, Currency for Soldier Use\u00a0(May 25, 1775); a notification for a local branch of the Masons (1772) and a\u00a0Medical Certificate for John Warren, MD\u00a0(June 8, 1785). Revere even produced the illustrations for Susannah Carter\u2019s\u00a0The Frugal Housewife\u00a0(1772).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The final theme of the exhibition is\u00a0Revere the Legend\u00a0(Concord Museum), which returns viewers to the Revere of mythology, as his status as a hero becomes the settled narrative in the 19th century. Central to this is Longfellow\u2019s poem, presented here in the January 1861 edition of\u00a0Atlantic Monthly\u00a0where it was first published\u2014and which spawned many other works on the subject, including a 1910-1920 gouache of\u00a0Revere\u2019s Ride\u00a0by\u00a0Enos\u00a0Comstock and a watercolor by Charles Kendrick from the same period; the 1922 painting,\u00a0Paul Revere, by the renowned American artist N.C. Wyeth; a collection of postcards narrating Revere\u2019s ride; and Irwin Shapiro\u2019s cover art for the book\u00a0Walt Disney’s Paul Revere\u00a0(1957). Continuing the patriot\u2019s legend to modern times are fun artifacts, such as a\u00a0Pabst Blue Ribbon beer ad poster featuring Paul Revere on his horse.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond Midnight: Paul Revere\u00a0is curated by two scholars from the American Antiquarian Society: Nan Wolverton, Ph.D., Director of Fellowships and the Center for Historic American Visual Culture (CHAViC) and Lauren Hewes, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Graphic Arts. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue of essays and images that also transforms readers\u2019 understanding of the iconic colonial patriot. Essays examine Revere as a patriot, a manufacturer, a precious metalsmith, a printer, and an engraver. His legacy as a polymath is documented in the book\u2019s complete illustrated checklist of the exhibition\u2019s artifacts.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This exhibition is organized by the American Antiquarian Society with generous support from\u00a0CHAViC, Center for Historic American Visual Culture, AAS; Henry\u00a0Luce\u00a0Foundation; and Richard C. von Hess Foundation.\u00a0\u00a0Originally presented at the New-York Historical Society from September 6, 2019 through January 12, 2020, the exhibition will conclude its tour at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art from July 4 to October 11, 2020.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond Midnight: Paul Revere\u00a0will be accompanied by lectures, workshops, and events at both the Concord Museum and the Worcester Art Museum. Information about these programs can be found at\u00a0concordmuseum.org<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0worcesterart.org<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Support for the presentation of\u00a0Beyond Midnight: Paul Revere\u00a0at the Concord Museum is provided by Middlesex Savings Bank, Sustaining sponsor, as well as Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, Foundation of\u00a0MetroWest, Freedom\u2019s Way, Christie\u2019s, William R.\u00a0Becklean, Elise and Pierce Browne, James R. and Laura M. Burke, and Lisa and George Foote. The official hotel is Revere Hotel Boston Common.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Support for the exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum is provided by The Berry Group, Jim and Carol Donnelly, and Dr. and Mrs. Glenn A. Meltzer. Sponsorship support is provided by Cole Contracting.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

About the Concord Museum<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\nThe Concord Museum educates visitors of all ages about the history of Concord and its continuing influence on American political, literary and cultural life. The Museum\u2019s nationally significant collection serves as a catalyst for changing exhibitions, extended classroom learning, dynamic programs and publications relevant to an ever-changing world. Founded in 1886, the Museum is a center of cultural enjoyment for the region and a gateway to the town of Concord for visitors from around the world. The Concord Museum has been continuously accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1973.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Concord Museum, located at 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, is open starting February 14, 2020, 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for Seniors and Students with ID., $6 for Children (5-17). Children under 5, Museum Members, and Active Military are free. Parking is free. For more information, visit\u00a0concordmuseum.org<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\nAbout the Worcester Art Museum<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Worcester Art Museum creates transformative programs and exhibitions, drawing on its exceptional collection of art. Dating from 3,000 BC to the present, these works provide the foundation for a focus on audience engagement, connecting visitors of all ages and abilities with inspiring art and demonstrating its enduring relevance to daily life. Creative initiatives\u2014 including pioneering collaborative programs with local schools, fresh approaches to exhibition design and in-gallery teaching, and a long history of studio class instruction\u2014offer opportunities for diverse audiences to experience art and learn both from and with artists.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Since its founding in 1896, the Worcester Art Museum has assembled a collection of 38,000 objects: from the ancient Near East and Asia, to European and American paintings and sculptures, and continuing with works by contemporary artists from around the world. WAM has a history of making large scale acquisitions, such as its Medieval Chapter House, the Worcester Hunt Mosaic, its 15th<\/sup>-century Spanish ceiling, and the Flemish\u00a0Last Judgment\u00a0tapestry. In 2013, the Museum acquired the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, comprising two thousand arms and armor objects. It continues to commission and present new works, such as 2017\u2019s installation of the interactive\u00a0Reusable Universes\u00a0and\u00a0Organic Concept\u00a0works by Shih Chieh Huang.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Worcester Art Museum, located at 55 Salisbury Street in Worcester, MA, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the third Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $8 for children 4-17, $14 for seniors 65+ and for college students with ID. Admission is free for Museum Members and children under age four. On the first Sunday of each month, admission is free for everyone. Museum parking is free. For more information, visit\u00a0worcesterart.org<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BEYOND MIDNIGHT: PAUL REVERE\u00a0REVEALS THE CREATIVE FORCE OF A GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT John Singleton Copley,\u00a0Paul Revere, 1768, Oil on canvas, Gift of Joseph W. Revere, William B. Revere and Edward H. R. Revere, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 30.781, photograph \u00a9 2019 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston \u00a0 Exhibition will be on view at the<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/?author=1"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Uncategorized<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"BEYOND MIDNIGHT: PAUL REVERE\u00a0REVEALS THE CREATIVE FORCE OF A GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT John Singleton Copley,\u00a0Paul Revere, 1768, Oil on canvas, Gift of Joseph W. Revere, William B. Revere and Edward H. R. Revere, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 30.781, photograph \u00a9 2019 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston \u00a0 Exhibition will be on view at theRead…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=536"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":542,"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536\/revisions\/542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dodgemillmuseum.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}