Hartford Decorative Arts Society: Supporting the Arts, Supporting Women

My respect and awe for Elizabeth Colt deepens as I learn more about her leadership and philanthropy in the arts as a founder of the Hartford Decorative School of Arts. (1877) Following the vision of parent decorative art society in New York, Hartford also “established a place for the exhibition and sale of sculpture, paintings, wood-carvings, lace-work art, needle-work and decorative work…..done by women and to encourage profitable industries among women!” Hartford Decorative School of Arts committee was composed by other powerful and devoted intellectuals including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain’s wife, Olivia Clemens and Mrs. Frank Cheney (silk manufacturer).

Studio and art classes, instruction in “drawing and painting,” and lectures on topics such as “chemistry of artists’ colors,” and classes in art needlework and china painting were made available. Annual exhibition and sale of works solidified the committee’s single-mindedness in their philanthropic efforts for the benefit of poor women. Though the society only flourished for about seven years, it was a first step toward “founding a free public art gallery and permanent school of art in Hartford.” The Art Society of Hartford, established in 1886 composed of several members from the defunct Hartford Decorative School of Arts managed and operated classes and held annual sales of artistic works at the Wadsworth Atheneum, transforming its art gallery into a space that was free to the public.

To pair the visual with Elizabeth Colt’s impact in Hartford, I feel fortunate The Connecticut State Library possesses in their archives, “Report of the Society of Decorative Art of the city of Hartford, Conn.,” dated 1883 that can be viewed online. The reports within the report to the Society’s committee and members include ability to fund six students who cannot afford dues through membership fees, sales of art work and the income these sales provide to the contributors, a Treasurer’s Report and members list. What truly moved me was this commentary in the Art Sales report section; “Women educated in all refinements of luxury who sought painting or embroidery merely as an amusement, have been compelled to adopt it as one of their means of support……Will not our community further her in these efforts and give her all she asks, not charity, but a fair equivalent for her work? How exciting that in Hartford, women like Elizabeth Colt supported women to take charge and be financial contributors in their families through art production.

Images credit: Connecticut State Library Digital Collections https://collections.ctdigitalarchive.org (Illustrations include Cover of Report, partial members list and illustrations that complement sections Art Sales and Art classes.) References from William Hosley, “Colt: The Making of an American Legend.”