American Themes in Art & Architecture
Begin your tour at the top of the stairs.
This Old House
Find the time
line (along the wall near the stairs) with the
history of the Taft Museum of Art. This
building was a home from 1820 to 1931.
When it was first built, the state of Ohio was
17 years old and the United States was 44
years old. How many families lived in this
house? Do you know any other
famous American whose name is Taft?
Go down the long hall with windows, then
down six steps into the area that is not carpeted.
Lincoln and the Tafts
Find the photograph of Abraham Lincoln’s statue.
Have you seen this statue before? It is in Lytle Park, down the street from the Taft Museum
of Art. Mr. and Mrs. Taft hired the artist George Grey Barnard to create the statue. Barnard
gave them the sculpture, Adam and Eve, located next to the photo, probably as a way of
saying thank you for buying the big statue of Lincoln.
Turn right into the Orientation Gallery.
Native American Indians
Did you find the painting Song of the Talking Wire by Henry Farny?
How did you know this was an American scene?
The man is leaning against a wooden telegraph pole. Used to send messages, telegraph
wires were put up all across the early United States by the new Americans.
What do you think this man is thinking about?
What do you think he would say if he walked through downtown Cincinnati?
What other American pictures do you see?
The first 31 presidents can be seen on the set of
miniature portraits in the case. How many
can you identify?
Exit and turn right. Continue down the hall to the large painting opposite
the entrance to the Renaissance Treasury.
Hail to the Chief
This is a portrait of William Howard Taft, the 27th
President of the United States. He was the half-brother of Charles Taft, who once lived
in this house. How can you tell this is a picture of an important person?
Go across the hall into the Renaissance Treasury.
Stars and Stripes
The U.S. flag
is made up of stars and stripes…but do you know why?
The 13 stripes stand for the original states of the union, and the stars stand
for each of the current states. In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii became the most recent states
added to the union, giving the American flag 50 stars.
There are no flags in this room, but there are stars and stripes. How many can you find?
See if you can find objects that are red, white, and blue.
Leave the Renaissance Treasury, turn right and then go left down the Long Hall.
You will see large, beautiful murals painted directly on the walls.
(please continue to the other side)
American Pride
What do you think of as symbols of
America? Many people think of the flag and the bald eagle. In 1782, when
the United States was only six years old, the bald eagle was adopted as a
national emblem.
Eagles are considered to be powerful and strong. What do you think that
says about America? Can you find an eagle somewhere on these walls and on the ceiling?
Look carefully at the large murals. What do you see? Do any of them look like scenes of America now? How are they
different?
Continue down the hall and go into the 19th-Century Figural Painting Gallery.
Eagle Eyes
There are more eagles here.
Can you find them? Here’s a clue: don’t look in a
painting for these bright shiny birds.
Cross the Long Hall into the large Music Room.
Natural Beauty
Artists have
always looked to nature for inspiration when making
and decorating objects. The
acorn and the pineapple were
especially popular.
While acorns grow on oak trees, oak trees also grow from acorns. This is why they are often thought of
as symbols for life and strength. Look carefully to find the acorns in this room. HINT: They’re high
up and they’re not in any of the paintings or porcelain objects.*
Exit the Music Room through the door near a portrait of Mrs. Taft. Turn right and then go into the
18th Century British Portrait Gallery.
Welcome Friends!
The pineapple is a
symbol of wealth and prosperity. In parts of America, it was also
a sign of hospitality. It has been said that sailors would put a
pineapple on their fence or gatepost to let neighbors know that
they were home from the sea. Find the pineapple in this gallery.
HINT: Look at the furniture.**
Thanks for joining us today! We hope you’ll come back and visit us soon.
TA F T M U S E U M of A RT
*The acorns are above the doors and in the molding above the fireplaces.
**The pineapple is above the base of the table legs.
This Family Guide was prepared by the Taft Museum of Art Education Department.
Design: Mary Pat Buck Copyright © 2007
Funding provided by the Suzanne M. and Robert L. LaBoiteaux Family Foundation.