Communications

WANN Microphone

Tools of communication have transformed American society time and again over the past two centuries. The Museum has preserved many instruments of these changes, from printing presses to personal digital assistants.

The collections include hundreds of artifacts from the printing trade and related fields, including papermaking equipment, wood and metal type collections, bookbinding tools, and typesetting machines. Benjamin Franklin is said to have used one of the printing presses in the collection in 1726.

More than 7,000 objects chart the evolution of electronic communications, including the original telegraph of Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell's early telephones. Radios, televisions, tape recorders, and the tools of the computer age are part of the collections, along with wireless phones and a satellite tracking system.

Resource Type: Paintings

A Quiet Nook

Signed and dated watercolorCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Signed and dated watercolor
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1877
original artist
Blum, Robert Frederick
ID Number
GA.16637
catalog number
16637
accession number
119780

Farm House

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
graphic artist
Totten, Ralph J.
ID Number
2013.0196.03
accession number
2013.0196
catalog number
2013.0196.03

Ruined Brewery on Girard Avenue

Were it not identified as a brewery on Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the building in this unsigned 1879 watercolor and pencil study could easily be mistaken for one of Stephen Ferris’s Moorish subjects from his trip to southern Spain in 1881.
Description (Brief)
Were it not identified as a brewery on Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the building in this unsigned 1879 watercolor and pencil study could easily be mistaken for one of Stephen Ferris’s Moorish subjects from his trip to southern Spain in 1881. There are two more watercolor studies of the brewery; see: GA*14546 and GA*14547.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1879
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14540
catalog number
14540
accession number
94830

Keeper of the Torre de la Vela, Alhambra

Ferris made this watercolor sketch during his visit to southern Spain in 1881. See also GA*16683, Curator of the Alhambra, who looks very much like this man.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Ferris made this watercolor sketch during his visit to southern Spain in 1881. See also GA*16683, Curator of the Alhambra, who looks very much like this man.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16703
catalog number
16703
accession number
119780

Moorish Gate, Granada

Stephen Ferris’s watercolor view Justicia, Granada shows the Alhambra’s Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia) painted during the artist’s 1881 visit to Spain. In a letter to Sylvester R.
Description
Stephen Ferris’s watercolor view Justicia, Granada shows the Alhambra’s Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia) painted during the artist’s 1881 visit to Spain. In a letter to Sylvester R. Koehler, later Curator of Graphic Arts at the Smithsonian, Ferris, deeply moved by his experiences, observed: “‘See the Alhambra and die’ seems a very appropriate expression. I feel it and have more reverence for the Arabs [sic] art than any other school.”
Today the Gate of Justice is the main entrance to the Alhambra complex, which was completed by the Moors in the fourteenth century. The Spanish, who defeated the Moors in 1492, made later additions.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14548
catalog number
14548
accession number
94830

The Sermon on the Mount

Initialed and dated watercolorCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Initialed and dated watercolor
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1866
original artist
Schussele, Christian
ID Number
GA.16641
catalog number
16641
accession number
119780

Seville, Spain

Ferris painted the watercolor and graphite view of an unidentified building in Seville during his 1881 visit to southern Spain.
Description (Brief)
Ferris painted the watercolor and graphite view of an unidentified building in Seville during his 1881 visit to southern Spain. In an enthusiastic letter to an acquaintance, Ferris described Seville: “what a picturesque city for artists every window a decoration of flowers and the people so picturesque painting cannot describe it.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14551
catalog number
14551
accession number
94830

Apple

Signed watercolor sketch of an apple which Ferris made in 30 minutes on February 3, 1871Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Signed watercolor sketch of an apple which Ferris made in 30 minutes on February 3, 1871
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1871
maker
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16701
catalog number
16701
accession number
119780

Veteran of 1776

Although the watercolor of a Revolutionary War soldier in uniform with dog and child is not signed, Stephen Ferris etched a copper plate dated 1894, which shows a very similar scene without the child.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Although the watercolor of a Revolutionary War soldier in uniform with dog and child is not signed, Stephen Ferris etched a copper plate dated 1894, which shows a very similar scene without the child.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th century
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14594
catalog number
14594
accession number
94830

Cactus at the Alhambra

The signed watercolor of a cactus was made during Stephen Ferris’s visit to southern Spain in 1881 with his son, Gerome. Ferris drew another extravagant growth of cactus on a gypsy cave dwelling in the Granada area.
Description (Brief)
The signed watercolor of a cactus was made during Stephen Ferris’s visit to southern Spain in 1881 with his son, Gerome. Ferris drew another extravagant growth of cactus on a gypsy cave dwelling in the Granada area. See GA*14541.
Verso: There is a rough sketch of two reddish towers under an expansive sky on the verso. Although not identified, the quickly painted rectangular towers were probably part of the Alhambra complex in Granada where the cactus on the recto was painted..
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14550
catalog number
14550
accession number
94830

Portrait of a Bearded Man

Watercolor dedicated to Stephen Ferris by an artist, possibly Idelfonso Cañaveral y Perez (1855-1932) of Seville, SpainCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Watercolor dedicated to Stephen Ferris by an artist, possibly Idelfonso Cañaveral y Perez (1855-1932) of Seville, Spain
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th century
maker
Canaveral y Perez, Jose
ID Number
GA.16638
catalog number
16638
accession number
119780

Casa de Mariano

While in Granada, Spain in 1881, Stephen Ferris made the watercolor and pencil drawing of the Casa de Mariano.
Description (Brief)
While in Granada, Spain in 1881, Stephen Ferris made the watercolor and pencil drawing of the Casa de Mariano. He based his print Casa de Mariano (see GA*14404.03) on the drawing, but added details to the print like a donkey poking its head through the window and a woman spinning in the doorway of the cave.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14541
catalog number
14541
accession number
94830

Well at the Alhambra

Unsigned watercolor made in Granada, Spain, where Ferris visited with his son Gerome in 1881. A wrought-iron device similar to a crown appears above the well.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Unsigned watercolor made in Granada, Spain, where Ferris visited with his son Gerome in 1881. A wrought-iron device similar to a crown appears above the well.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14549
catalog number
14549
accession number
94830

King Lear and the Fool

Oil sketch on paper, signed and titled on the support, illustrating Shakespeare’s play King LearCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
Oil sketch on paper, signed and titled on the support, illustrating Shakespeare’s play King Lear
Location
Currently not on view
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16642
catalog number
16642
accession number
119780

Spanish Vase

While in Gibraltar in 1881, Stephen Ferris made this signed and dated watercolor.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
While in Gibraltar in 1881, Stephen Ferris made this signed and dated watercolor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14543
catalog number
14543
accession number
94830

Moorish Arcade with Figures

Although this watercolor and pencil drawing is unsigned, it closely resembles others signed by Stephen Ferris. For similar subject matter see Alhambra Hall of the Ambassadors, GA*14544.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Although this watercolor and pencil drawing is unsigned, it closely resembles others signed by Stephen Ferris. For similar subject matter see Alhambra Hall of the Ambassadors, GA*14544.
Location
Currently not on view
possible date made
ca 1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14539
catalog number
14539
accession number
94830

Alhambra, Hall of the Ambassadors

An unsigned exterior view of the Hall of the Ambassadors in the Alhambra complex of Granada, Spain. In another watercolor, the view serves as a frame for a story in the making. See GA*14539.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
An unsigned exterior view of the Hall of the Ambassadors in the Alhambra complex of Granada, Spain. In another watercolor, the view serves as a frame for a story in the making. See GA*14539.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th century
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14544
catalog number
14544
accession number
94830

Thumbnail Sketches of Market People, Southern Spain

Stephen Ferris remarked in an 1881 letter from southern Spain, “when arrived at Gib[ralter] we [Ferris and his son Gerome] were delighted with the Tangiers market people Arab merchants. . .
Description (Brief)
Stephen Ferris remarked in an 1881 letter from southern Spain, “when arrived at Gib[ralter] we [Ferris and his son Gerome] were delighted with the Tangiers market people Arab merchants. . . .” Perhaps these rapidly caught, varied individuals in ink, pencil and watercolor on this signed sheet are from the streets of Gibraltar.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14538
catalog number
14538
accession number
94830

View in the Alhambra, Spain

Stephen Ferris sketched and painted this pencil and watercolor view of buildings in the Alhambra complex of Granada, Spain, in 1881. This is not a finished view but a work in progress.
Description
Stephen Ferris sketched and painted this pencil and watercolor view of buildings in the Alhambra complex of Granada, Spain, in 1881. This is not a finished view but a work in progress. The people rendered in pencil outline have not been colored, and there are many second thoughts like the tree at left, which has been enlarged. While in Granada, Ferris wrote a friend that he and his son were busy making sketches “much in memorandum for future use in pictures.” So captivated were they by the city that they spent more than half their Spanish visit there.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14545
catalog number
14545
accession number
94830

House of Pilate, Seville

Stephen Ferris identified this unsigned watercolor as the House of Pilate (Casa de Pilatos) in Seville, Spain. The palace was built in the sixteenth century and today is the official residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Stephen Ferris identified this unsigned watercolor as the House of Pilate (Casa de Pilatos) in Seville, Spain. The palace was built in the sixteenth century and today is the official residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
graphic artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14542
catalog number
14542
accession number
94830

Thistle; Landscape with Figures

Two watercolor sketches on a single sheet of brown paper: one shows a thistle and the other a landscape. Ferris signed the sketch of the thistle.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Two watercolor sketches on a single sheet of brown paper: one shows a thistle and the other a landscape. Ferris signed the sketch of the thistle.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1879
maker
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16702
catalog number
16702
accession number
119780

Ruined Brewery, Girard Avenue

The signed and dated watercolor of a Philadelphia brewery was made eight years after an earlier dated view in the Ferris Collection. No doubt Ferris was returning to a favorite subject. See GA*14546 and GA*14540.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
The signed and dated watercolor of a Philadelphia brewery was made eight years after an earlier dated view in the Ferris Collection. No doubt Ferris was returning to a favorite subject. See GA*14546 and GA*14540.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14547
catalog number
14547
accession number
94830

An Entrance to the Brewery on Girard Avenue

The signed watercolor is one of three in the Ferris Collection in which Stephen Ferris depicted the brewery on Girard Avenue in Philadelphia. The similarity of the building to Moorish architecture probably appealed to the artist, who was very interested in that subject.
Description (Brief)
The signed watercolor is one of three in the Ferris Collection in which Stephen Ferris depicted the brewery on Girard Avenue in Philadelphia. The similarity of the building to Moorish architecture probably appealed to the artist, who was very interested in that subject. However buildings in the pencil sketch at upper right look more like Philadelphia. See also GA*14540 and GA*14547.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
unknown
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.14546
catalog number
14546
accession number
94830

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