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This painting displays several views of landscapes and buildings, all surrounding a central, oval depiction of one landscape with several buildings. At the bottom is a label that reads "Views of the Buildings & Surroundings of the Berks County Alms House. 1878". The scenes include lush hills, clear skies, and a variety of buildings. In the center is the main complex of the Alms House with red buildings, gardens, fields, roads, carriages, and livestock. Surrounding this central oval is a decorative border with a crest or shield at the top.
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This painting displays several views of landscapes and buildings, all surrounding a central, oval depiction of one landscape with several buildings. At the bottom is a label that reads "Views of the Buildings & Surroundings of the Berks County Alms House. 1878". The scenes include lush hills, clear skies, and a variety of buildings. In the center is the main complex of the Alms House with red buildings, gardens, fields, roads, carriages, and livestock. Surrounding this central oval is a decorative border with a crest or shield at the top.

National Gallery of Art · Painting

Berks County Almshouse, 1878

Charles C. Hofmann

Date
1878
Medium
oil on zinc
Dimensions
overall: 82.5 x 99.6 cm (32 1/2 x 39 3/16 in.) framed: 97 x 114 x 5.7 cm (38 3/16 x 44 7/8 x 2 1/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Accession number
1953.5.17
Credit line
Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CAB
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • painted surface
  • American
  • exterior
  • architecture
  • PA
  • American Naive Paintings
  • Naive
  • Almshouse
  • Berks County
Provenance

Jacob Hartgen, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1878-1925.[1] (Bert Frame, Reading, Pennsylvania), by whom sold in 1947 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch; gift to NGA, 1953. [1] The artist was on several occasions during the 1870's a tenant of the almshouse depicted in this painting. Bert Frame, in a letter of 19 May 1947 to Edgar Garbisch (in NGA curatorial file), wrote of Hofmann that "It was his wont, on visiting days, to approach visitors, and beg a few pennies to `help put something in his bottle', for which he `will paint for you, a pretty picture.' Jacob Hartgen [1843-1925] was the baker there, at this time, and he probably contributed his bit, many times, as he not only obtained the picture which you have, but two religious pictures, and a portrait of Mr. Hartgen's wife...(all painted on tin)."

Inscription

lower right: 1878-Charles Hofman [sic], Painter.; upper center, on banner: VIRTUE, LIBERTY & INDEPENDENCE!; upper center, just above banner: PENSYLVANIA; lower center: VIEWS OF THE BUILDINGS & SURROUNDINGS / OF THE BERKS-COUNTY-ALMS-HOUSE. 1878.; along bottom of small scenes, clockwise beginning at lower left: Tenant-house No. II.; School-house.; Cemetery; Tenant hous [sic] No. I.; Western-View of the new Hospital.; Tenant-house No. III.; Kitchen-supplying spring, & Reservoir:; Grein barn:

NGA object ID 42420. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.