Studio Building (Boston, Massachusetts)

From 1861 the Studio Building stood adjacent to the Horticultural Hall, on the opposite side of Bromfield St. The building consisted of "a massive range of brick, four stories high, — the whole surmounted by a French roof; a handsome and imposing structure, in the lower story of which are six fine large stores, occupied [in 1869] by the Leavitt and Parker Sewing-Machine Cos., California Wine Agency, the Howard Clock Co., &c.; and, above-stairs, by numerous artists, painters, engravers, draughtsmen, &c."Stranger's new guide through Boston and vicinity. Boston: A. Williams, 1869. [https://books.google.com/books?id=WMD7duMZTnwC Google books]

"The Studio Building ... is a perfect hive of artists. This building, indeed, is the headquarters of the artists of Boston. ... There are delightful artists' receptions here, to which the general public is invited. Besides the devotees of art, there are many private teachers of music and the languages in the Studio Building, and not a few of the rooms are occupied as bachelors' apartments."Boston Illustrated. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1872 Visitors included Sophia Peabody Hawthorne in 1863: "5 June, Thursday. Finest day - cool. We went out after breakfast with Annie. We visited Studio gallery - & saw good statue of Judge Shaw. Hunt's portrait by himself. Healy's Longfellow. Ames' Rachel. Gay's seashore & a pearly silvery sky of wondrous truth."Thomas Woodson, James A. Rubino, Jamie Barlowe Kayes. With Hawthorne in Wartime Concord: Sophia Hawthorne's 1862 Diary. Studies in the American Renaissance, (1988)

Beginning in November 1861, artist William Rimmer gave anatomy "lectures in Room 55 of the Studio Building. He was an inspiring teacher; John LaFarge ... Daniel Chester French, Frederick Vinton, Frank Benson and many others testified to it. ... He represented the first thorough art instruction based on the human figure to be given in Boston, and indeed in the entire United States. ... Rimmer's lectures were never mere dry analyses of muscles and their attachments. He drew brilliantly on the blackboard, combining technical diagrams with fantastic embellishments. His figures sprouted wings, were set off by elegant draperies, sat beside elaborate urns, were clad in fanciful armor, brandished trumpets and daggers."Lincoln Kirstein. William Rimmer: His Life and Art. Massachusetts Review, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Summer, 1961) One of his students was May Alcott, who "studied sculpture with William Rimmer and painting with William Hunt at the new Studio Building in Boston, on the corner of Tremont and Broomfield streets."April F. Masten. Art Work: Women Artists and Democracy in mid-Nineteenth-Century New York. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008; p.283

The "studio and gallery" of William Morris Hunt "were the great attractions to visitors who came to the 'receptions' given by the artists in the building. The stirring picture, The Bugle Call, painted in Newport, was exhibited here; the drawing of The Drummer Boy, which attracted great crowds while on exhibition in Messrs. Williams & Everett's window, was conceived and executed here. Its motto, 'To arms! To arms!' found a response in the mood of the citizens, who were burning with patriotic ardor. I think this was just after the firing upon Fort Sumter, in 1861."Frederic P. Vinton. William Morris Hunt: Personal Reminiscences. American Art Review, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Dec., 1879) According to one historian, however, Hunt himself probably found Boston "a far cry from the carefree vie de Boheme of Paris, and the life centering around the Studio Building on Tremont Street but a pale replica of the Latin Quarter -like a plaster cast, almost like a death mask, one might say, of the lively original."Albert Ten Eyck Gardner. A Rebel in Patagonia. Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New Series, Vol. 3, No. 9 (May, 1945)

"The new Tremont Theatre, in the Studio Building, on Tremont street, was remodelled from Allston Hall, and opened as a theatre on Feb. 9, 1863, under the management of Mrs. Jane English, with a ballet and pantomime troupe. ... For a brief period K. L. Davenport and J. W. Wallack were managers of the house, but notwithstanding the high character of the dramatic work done here, it was not a prosperous theatre. It was finally converted into a hall for pedestrian matches, and [by 1892 was] used for a retail carpet-store."Bacon. Boston of to-day: a glance at its history and characteristics. Post Publishing Company, 1892

Performances included:

• "Le Rue's great war show! The wonderful strato-pateticon, or walking-army"Hartford Daily Courant, May 5, 1864
• Theatre Francais, directed by Paul Juignet, 1864-1865American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1
• Tom Taylor's The Ticket-of-Leave Man, 1865
• Holman Opera Troupe -Mr. George Holman, his wife, his daughter Sallie Holman (soprano/principal singer) and another daughter, and two sons, with some others, including William H. Crane and Sallie`s husband Mr. J. T. Dalton, which toured throughout Canada for many years.{{cite book |editor-last=Morgan |editor-first=Henry James |editor-link=Henry James Morgan |title=Types of Canadian Women and of Women who are or have been Connected with Canada |location=Toronto |publisher=Williams Briggs |date=1903 |url=https://archive.org/details/typesofcanadianw01morguoft |page=[https://archive.org/details/typesofcanadianw01morguoft/page/161 161]}}
• Morris Brothers, Pell & Trowbridge's Minstrels
• Cotton & Murphy MinstrelsWinsor. The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880, Volume 4. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1886. [https://books.google.com/books?id=7EcoAAAAYAAJ Google books]

In December 1906 a fire "caused heavy damage in the block bounded by Tremont, Bromfield, Washington and Winter streets. ... The flames were confined ... to one structure, the Studio building."Fire loss at Boston, business heart of the city threatened for a time; loss $150,000. Ft. Worth Telegram, Dec. 19, 1906Artists robbed after fire: some pictures stolen, others perforated, in Boston Studios. New York Times, Dec. 21, 1906Heavy damage by fire in Boston: great destruction on Tremont Street was threatened. Columbus Enquirer Sun (Georgia), 1906

Image:1864 Fera confectioner BostonDirectory.png|Advertisement for E. Fera's ice cream saloon, 1864

Image:1865 TheatreFrancais TremontTheatre Boston.png|Detail of programme for Paul Juignet's Theatre Francais, 1865

Image:1868 Edward G Caldwell architect BostonDirectory.png|Advertisement for Edward G. Caldwell, architect, 1868

Image:1869 HGSmith photos StudioBuilding TremontSt Nanitz map Boston detail BPL10490.png|Advertisement for H.G. Smith, photographer, 1869

Image:1891 TremontSt Boston.png|Tremont St., 1891, with view of Horticultural Hall, Studio Building (at left), Park St. Church, Granary Burying Ground (at right)

Image:1900 Seth Morton Vose gallerist Smithsonian.png|Portrait of Seth M. Vose, gallerist (photo 1900)

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• American Art GalleryNew York Times, March 22, 1880
• Joseph Ames{{cite book |title=Boston Directory, 1868}}
• Miss M.K. Baker, artistBoston Almanac. 1875, 1888{{cite book |title=Boston Almanac, 1889 |year = 1889|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PIEBAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=2010-09-30}}
• E.M. Bannister, artist{{cite book |title=Boston Almanac, 1865 |year = 1871|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0n8BAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=2010-09-30}}
• E.T. Billings, artistBoston Almanac. 1865, 1875, 1888, 1889{{cite book |title=Boston Almanac, 1894 |year = 1894|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DoEBAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=2010-09-30}}
• Edward Brackett{{cite journal |author=Marilyn Richardson |url=http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=191 |journal=Antiques & Fine Arts |title=Hiawatha in Rome: Edmonia Lewis and Figures from Longfellow }}
• Miss M.A. Bradford, artistBoston Almanac. 1888, 1889, 1894
• Mrs. E.H. Brainard, artistBoston Almanac. 1888, 1889
• Miss H.L. Brown, artist
• J. Appleton Brown, artistFrank Torrey Robinson. Living New England artists: biographical sketches, reproductions of original drawings and paintings by each artist. Boston: S. E. Cassino, 1888
• E.C. Cabot, architect
• Edward G. Caldwell, architect
• Miss E.M. Carpenter, artist
• William Carl, artist
• Miss A.E. Chandler, artist{{cite book |title=Boston Almanac, 1876 |year = 1876|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5oIBAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=2010-09-30}}
• F. Myron ClarkNew York Times, Dec. 21, 1906
• J.G. Cloudman, artist
• George A. Clough, architect
• Darius Cobb, artist
• Theodore E. Colburn, architect
• Henry Cook, artist
• Charles Copeland, artist
• J.C. Crossman, artist
• George L. Crosby, artist
• Cummings & Sears, architectsBoston commercial directory for 1869
• Cyrus E. Dallin, artistWilliam Howe Downs. Cyrus E. Dallin, Sculptor. Brush and Pencil, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Oct., 1899)
• Thomas W. Dewing, artistSusan Hobbs. Thomas Wilmer Dewing: The Early Years, 1851-1885. American Art Journal, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Spring, 1981)
• T.C. Doane
• John Donoghue, artistBoston Almanac. 1888
• Morris Dorr, architect
• Grace Dow, artist
• Frank Duveneck, artist
• B.F. Dwight, architect
• Educational Committee for Freedmen
• L.D. Eldred, artist
• William R. Emerson, architect
• Miss M.M. Emery, artist
• Fabronius, artist
• A.C. Fenety, artist
• F.M. Fenety, artist
• Beatrice V. Folsom, artist
• Bradford Freeman, artist[http://www.nhhistory.org/cv/index-artists/source/10.htm New Hampshire Historical Society]
• Francis Seth FrostBoston Directory. 1864
• Edmund H. Garrett, artist8th Annual exhibition of paintings by prominent artists at the Poland Spring Art Gallery. Maine: H. Ricker & sons, 1902
• Ignaz Gaugengigl, artistCatalogue of the third annual exhibition of the Paint and Clay Club: held at the Gallery of the Boston Art Club, March 1884. Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1884Robinson. 1888Boston Almanac. 1889, 1894
• S.L. Gerry
• Ellen L. Gilbert, artist, educatorAmerican Art Notes. American Art Illustrated, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Oct., 1886)Boston Almanac. 1889
• James Gilbert, artist
• Abbott Graves
• James R. Gregerson, architect
• S.W. Griggs, artist
• Louis K. Harlow, artist
• George F. Higgins, artist
• S.P. Hodgdon, artist
• Mrs. Horton, artist
• William Morris Hunt
• Phoebe A. Jenks, artist"Phoebe Pickering Jenks." Robinson. 1888
• N.T. Johnson, artist
• D.C. Johnston and T.M.J. Johnston, artists
• Earnest Kuhn, artist
• Walter F. Lansil, artist
• A.W. Latham, artist
• Edmonia Lewis
• L.K. Long, artist
• W.P.P. Longfellow, architect
• G.A. Loring, artist
• Miss E.P. Mann, artist
• Marshall & Co., photographs
• Mrs. M.C. McGurk, artist
• H.W. Merrill, artist
• Samuel S. Miles, artist
• Martin Millmore, sculptorLetter from Wendell Phillips to W.R. Emerson, Sept. 8, 1872; cf. Irving H. Bartlett and Emerson. The Philosopher and the Activist: New Letters from Emerson to Wendell Phillips. New England Quarterly, Vol. 62, No. 2 (Jun., 1989)Boston Directory. 1873
• B.R. Morse, artist
• George C. Munzig, artist
• P. Nefflen, artist
• New England Loyal Publication Society (related to the Loyal Publication SocietyWilliam Endicott. Tribute to Professor Norton. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Third Series, Vol. 2, 1908
• Jessie Noa, artist
• F. Evelyn Nute, artist
• Alfred Ordway, artistBoston Almanac. 1865, 1889, 1894
• H. Winthrop Peirce, artist
• S.E. Perkins, artistBoston Almanac. 1875, 1889, 1894
• Miss M.A. Platt, artist
• B.C. Porter, artist
• C.W. Reed, artist
• Miss H. Reed, artist
• Mrs. E.S. Remick, artist
• J.F. Reynolds
• William Rimmer, sculptor
• Thomas Robinson, artist
• S.W. Rowse, artist
• L.A. Schirmer, artist
• G.W. Seavey, artist
• Frank Henry Shapleigh, artist
• Anna H. Silloway, artist
• T.S. Slafter, artist
• H.G. Smith, photographer, publisherAdvertisement detail of: "Nanitz' great mercantile map of Boston" (Boston: B.B. Russell, 1869)Illuminated business directory of Boston, 1870
• George Snell, architectObituary notes. New York Times, Feb. 24, 1893Maud Howe Elliott. Artists I Have Known through Eighty Years. North American Review, Vol. 248, No. 2 (Winter, 1939/1940)
• Miss Southwick, artist
• Charles E. Stetfield, artist
• Miss S.C. Stetson, artist
• Frederick T. Stuart, artist, c. 1902
• Miss F.W. Tewskbury, artist
• Jerome Thompson, painterBoston Daily Evening Transcript - Aug 19, 1868
• John D. Towle & Son, architects
• Henry Van Brunt and William Robert Ware, architects
• Herman Vogel, artist
• Seth Morton Vose, galleristObituary: Seth Morton Vose. American Art News, Vol. 8, No. 26 (Apr. 9, 1910), p. 7Robert C. Vose, Jr. and Robert F. Brown. Boston's Vose Galleries: A Family Affair. Archives of American Art Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1 (1981)
• Lilian Walker, artist
• Florence I. Webber, artist
• George A. Weeden, artist
• Fred D. Williams, artist
• Joseph P. Woodbury, "inventor"
• Elizabeth Wyer, artist

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{{Commons category|Studio Building, Boston (Tremont Street)}}

• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/johncurtisrea/3931103836/ Flickr]. Portrait of Theadoria Caffrain Homes, 1860s; by Marshall, photographer, Studio Building, Cor. Tremont & Bromfield Sts., Boston
• [http://www.historicnewengland.org/collections-archives-exhibitions/collections-access/collection-object/capobject?gusn=GUSN-165425 Historic New England]. Drawing of Studio Building
• [http://www.bostonathenaeum.org/856images/454_00.jpg Boston Athenaeum]. James Wells Champney's "Sketch from Studio Building, Boston, during fire. 4 o’clock morning Nov. 10th, 1872"
• Bostonian Society. [http://rfi.bostonhistory.org/boston/full/000181.jpg Photo of Studio Building] at 104-116 Tremont Street, 1905
• Boston Public Library. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/5737323380/ Photo], 1916

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Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1861

Category:Former buildings and structures in Boston

Category:Cultural history of Boston

Category:19th century in Boston

Category:Financial District, Boston

Category:1861 establishments in Massachusetts