MUSEUM STORE SUNDAY | 20% OFF TODAY ONLY | USE COUPON CODE 'MSS20'
Philadelphia Museum of Art Custom Prints
HOME

THOMAS EAKINS

WILLIAM RUSH CARVING HIS ALLEGORICAL FIGURE OF THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER, 1876-1877

Navigation
Home
About
Help
View Cart
Shop Main Online Store

About the Artwork

In this canvas Thomas Eakins shows William Rush carving one of his many public sculptures--an allegorical figure of the Schuylkill River done in 1808 for Philadelphia's first waterworks. Other works by Rush, including a life-sized figure of George Washington and his Allegory of the Waterworks (on view in the Museum), are visible in the dim background of the shop and constitute a survey of the venerable artist's career. Eakins made this painting just as he was beginning his years at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts as a charismatic but controversial teacher, notorious for his insistence on the study of the nude as the basis for all art. It is highly unlikely that Rush had employed a nude model for his draped figure, but in this exquisite historical fabrication Eakins employs the impeccable reputation of the distinguished Philadelphia sculptor to justify his own practices. The unidealized but sympathetically observed and beautifully painted figure of the nude woman stands as a manifesto of Eakins's beliefs about the goal of art.
Darrel Sewell, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 287

Popular Images

About Our Prints

Quality
Philadelphia Museum of Art Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.
Selection
Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. In addition, new works are continually added to the offering so make sure to come back and see the new releases.
Customization
You have found the work that speaks to you. Now what? Using our innovative custom framing tool you can preview exactly what your finished and framed art will look like. We offer many different moulding styles so there is sure to be a match for any type of decor.

Member Discounts

As always, members will receive their discount for all transactions processed through our Custom Prints store. Simply enter your Member ID during the checkout process and your discount will be applied.