Photo Record
Metadata
Photographer |
Burnham, S. P. |
Title |
Carte-de-Visite of a painting by David Morrill (1788-1878) of the Bible Story of the Burning Bush |
Object Name |
Carte-de-visite |
Catalog Number |
1995.9.1 |
Date |
1866 |
Year Range from |
1866 |
Year Range to |
1866 |
Description |
https://www.dartmouth.edu/library/Library_Bulletin/Apr1996/LB-A96-Zea.html Dartmouth College Library Bulletin, David Morrill, Ornamental Painter of Strafford and Norwich, by Kimberly King Zea: "The scene is taken from the Holy Bible, Exod. 3:1-6, the story of the burning bush. In this rendition, flames glow within a towering Vermont white pine tree while smoke billows from its crown. A garantuan angel appears in the middle of 'the bush' while Moses cowers, head in his hands, surrounded by bored sheep. A mountainous background and craggy foreground frame the scene. The hand of a traditional coach painter can be seen in the lower edge, where decoratie scroll work is clearly derived from published decorative pattrns available in contemporary manuals....A second clue to Morrill's painterly style is found in a recently discovered carte-de-visite. The scene appears to be painted on a shade or panel and is inscribed at the bottom: D. Morrill, Ptr AE 77 Yr. The carte-de-visite was produced by his Norwich neighbor, photographer S. P. Burnam. The scene is taken from the Holy Bible, Exod. 3:1-6, the story of the burning bush. In this rendition, flames glow within a towering Vermont white pine tree while smoke billows from its crown. A gargantuan angel appears in the middle of 'the bush' while Moses cowers, head in his hands, surrounded by bored sheep. A mountainous background and craggy foreground frame the scene. The hand of a traditional coach painter can be seen in the lower edge, where decorative scrollwork is clearly derived from published decorative patterns available in contemporary manuals. The use of the indigenous pine tree for the 'burning bush' lends a vernacular, almost whimsical interpretation to the story. Morrill did have some experience in painting the human form. In 1840, he charged his brother, Stephen, $2.50 for 'a likeness' (or portrait). Stephen was a long-standing civic leader in Strafford. If the portrait survived -- and is someday found -- we will have another medium to reconstruct the painterly style of David Morrill. These details provides a sliver of insight into Morrill's personality, which seems to have been both earnest and creative. The patron for this decorative curtain or shade is not yet determined. American Folk Museum: "David Morrill, who was born in Chichester, New Hampshire, and moved with his family to Strafford, Vermont, as a child. There, and in nearby Norwich, he served his community as a justice of the peace and as a soldier during the War of 1812. He started working as an ornamental painter by 1830 and pursued that trade throughout his life. In addition to painting carriages and sleighs, Morrill’s extant account books also demonstrate that he painted signs, chairs, cradles, chimney pieces, and floorcloths, among other items. A second signed example of his work, a painting on a shade or wood panel depicting the story of Moses and the burning bush, is known only through the image on a carte-de-visite. The widely known biblical story was used as part of the ritual for the Masonic Royal Arch degrees. Morrill, who died in 1878 at the age of eighty-nine, is listed as a member of Orange Mark Lodge No. 14 in 1825 in the proceedings of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Vermont. A published history of Norwich, Vermont, remembered him as "a firm believer in the mystic order, [he] governed his daily life by the square and rule. . . ." https://folkartmuseum.org/content/uploads/2016/02/Mystery_Teachers_Guide.pdf |
People |
Burnham, S. P. Morrill, David Converse, Anna B. |
Subjects |
Religion Town History |
Search Terms |
19th century Norwich Main Street, Norwich Norwich Congregational Church |
Credit line |
Transferred from Dartmouth College, Special Collections |