A theme that I saw prevail across most if not all of the given primary resources was a discussion about whether or not art was beneficial, powerful, and useful to America from Colonial Era to Antebellum Era. While situations and circumstances vary between era, and each time period seems to create and express themselves in new ways, the one commonality that strikes me from many different sources is the discussion of art’s influence and power onto society. With focus on documents that argue art progresses society and even more so has the power to influence viewers, can be seen in Charles Peale’s address to the citizens of the United States of America in February, 1790. Peale’s statement is in reference to the opening of his museum which would stress , ‘…the importance that such a collection and arrangement would be to society…” and that, “…for the emolument of mankind - a fabric, which with due attention, must be continually improving to the end of time.” (p148) In context of Peale’s advertisement of his museum, Peale believes that the objects in his museum which include a multitude of works from portraits to taxidermy give the public an important value. …show more content…
The mid-Antebellum period that saw creation and rise of art unions in an attempt to distribute art and create platforms for artists. The reliance on the people’s personal value of art and its contribution on society is something that I could assume manager of an Art-Union such as J.T. Hadley would know and value. For instance in a meeting in 1845, he is recalled to have stated, “Some one has said, give me the writing of the songs of a country, and you may make its