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Lot Essay
Some of the earliest examples of American painted landscapes can be seen on architectural elements, such as walls or overmantel panels; the latter were either set directly into the woodwork over a mantel or were painted on a separate panel and hung on the wall. They were usually fanciful and stylized; the scene depicted in this overmantel panel combines this artistic convention with a faithful representation of the campus at Philips' Exeter Academy.
The Gardiner Gilman House is located at 27 High Street, off Gilman Lane, on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. Known originally as the Josiah Coffin Smith house, it was built in 1789 by Smith on land he was given by Captain Leavitt upon the engagement of Smith to Captain Leavitt's daughter, Emma. In 1823, Josiah Smith sold his house to Captain Nathaniel Gilman, Jr., reportedly the largest landowner in Rockingham County. Gilman's two sons, Gardiner and John, lived in this house until 1905, when they moved across the lane. Gardiner retained the title on the house for a few years and then transferred it to his housekeeper, Harriet Tilton; from 1911-1940, Miss Tilton served as the landlady while her property was used by the Academy, initially as an annex to Dunbar Hall and later by Kappa Delti Pi fraternity. The house was bequeathed to the Academy upon her death in 1946 and has housed faculty members since then. (Exeter Historical Society, Phillips Exeter Bulletin [Spring, 1950])
Phillips' Exeter Academy was founded by Dr. John Phillips (1719-1795), on April 3, 1781; its charter spells out the intention of its founder, that being to promote "piety and virtue, and for the education of youth in the English, Latin, and Greek languages, in writing, arithmetic, music, the art of speaking, practical geometry, logic, and geography, and such other of the liberal arts and sciences or languages as opportunity may hereafter permit, or as the trustees shall direct." It was also dedicated to the promotion of good manners, sound morality, and pure religion. Upon Dr. Phillips' death, the bulk of his estate went to Phillips' Exeter Academy and some to Andover Academy.
The Gardiner Gilman House is located at 27 High Street, off Gilman Lane, on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. Known originally as the Josiah Coffin Smith house, it was built in 1789 by Smith on land he was given by Captain Leavitt upon the engagement of Smith to Captain Leavitt's daughter, Emma. In 1823, Josiah Smith sold his house to Captain Nathaniel Gilman, Jr., reportedly the largest landowner in Rockingham County. Gilman's two sons, Gardiner and John, lived in this house until 1905, when they moved across the lane. Gardiner retained the title on the house for a few years and then transferred it to his housekeeper, Harriet Tilton; from 1911-1940, Miss Tilton served as the landlady while her property was used by the Academy, initially as an annex to Dunbar Hall and later by Kappa Delti Pi fraternity. The house was bequeathed to the Academy upon her death in 1946 and has housed faculty members since then. (Exeter Historical Society, Phillips Exeter Bulletin [Spring, 1950])
Phillips' Exeter Academy was founded by Dr. John Phillips (1719-1795), on April 3, 1781; its charter spells out the intention of its founder, that being to promote "piety and virtue, and for the education of youth in the English, Latin, and Greek languages, in writing, arithmetic, music, the art of speaking, practical geometry, logic, and geography, and such other of the liberal arts and sciences or languages as opportunity may hereafter permit, or as the trustees shall direct." It was also dedicated to the promotion of good manners, sound morality, and pure religion. Upon Dr. Phillips' death, the bulk of his estate went to Phillips' Exeter Academy and some to Andover Academy.