At an elegant ceremony at Rosecliff, Preservation Society of Newport County unveiled their latest Gilded Age exhibit, “Wild Imagination: Art and Animals in the Gilded Age,” housed in the upstairs galleries of the Stanford White-designed Rosecliff, a home inspired by the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles, the Grand Trianon. Wild Imagination explores the influence of the pivotal Gilded Age on how animals were perceived in our modern world.
“if you think about our animals, think about after the Civil War, when the veterans were coming back to their farms, America was changing,” said Peter W. Harris, Vice Chairman of the Board, at the opening reception. “And so the show that you see upstairs is really about the relationship between humans and animals coming in this new world after the Civil War through the Gilded Age.”
The Gilded Age in America took place in 1870-1914, a time of industrialization and migration, with many of the country’s individuals opting to live in cities, leaving much of the rural landscape behind. This transplantation seemed to have triggered a nostalgia for nature and animals. During this time, an increase in world travel, marine exploration and imperial expansion made way for the introduction to new “exotic” species. Additionally, as more spectators visited zoos and circuses, this gave way to a developing animal rights movement during the Gilded Age.
“The Gilded Age was the golden era of the American circus and the establishment of zoos or menageries for the public’s entertainment and edification,” said Dr. Nicole Williams, who curated the exhibit, the second show she’s overseen for the Preservation Society. “And if you’ve donated to your local society for this Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, that’s a living legacy of its golden age, the nation’s first movement to prevent animal cruelty launched in the late 19th century. The ASPCA was founded in 1866 and our local ASPCA chapter here in Rhode Island was established shortly after 1870. So all of these developments are still with us today, from the rise of PETA to the animal welfare movement, and we explore all of these themes upstairs through an exciting range of artworks.”
The new show on display at Rosecliff brings together all these influences into an inspiring exhibit that includes paintings, sculptures, photographs and fashions such as fancy dog collars. The inscriptions throughout the exhibit include some pretty captivating tidbits about the Gilded Age individuals who shaped so much of Newport society and their relationship with their animals.
“The list of gifts to our private collection, our personal collection here at the front Preservation Society, is so incredible,” said Leslie B. Jones, Director of Museum Affairs and Chief Curator. “The generosity of individuals who have decided to share with us their treasured belongings, and giving us the responsibility of caring for those and exhibiting them in a responsible way.”
Wild Imagination is a terrific collaborative effort, thanks to donated pieces from several of Newport’s historical preservation societies. Among the contributing organizations include Brown University, Castle Hill Inn, Columbus Museum of Art, Harvard University, Historic New England, Maryhill Museum of Art, The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home, Museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Mystic Seaport Museum, National Museum of American Illustration, Newport Historical Society, Newport Restoration Foundation, New-York Historical Society, New York University and Trinity College.
“One thing I really hope that you take away from the exhibition is a new understanding of animals as agents of history, with stories, experiences and genealogies all their own,” Williams added, who also spoke about the community partnerships this particular exhibit helped enhance. “We’ve jumped at the chance again to build meaningful community partnerships. Last year, we developed enriching relationships with the Chinese Historical Society of New England and other regional cultural groups. And this year, it’s been an absolute pleasure to develop new partnerships with the Rhode Island ASPCA, the Norman Bird Sanctuary and Roger Williams Park Zoo.”
Wild Imagination will stay on display through January 12, 2025 and is included with the admission price to Rosecliff. The hours run from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
