A Gallery Hunt in the American Wing
The Metropolitan Museum of Art What WaS it like growing up in early America? With this Gallery Hunt, you will have a chance to meet some American children and discover how they spent their free time. As you explore the works of art included in this hunt, keep in mind how you and your friends like to spend your leisure time today. Begin this hunt in the painting galleries on the second floor of the American Wing. In Gallery #223, find the portrait of Stephen Crossfield Jr. shown on the cover of this gallery hunt. Master Stephen Crossfield (ON COVER) William WUliams, c. 1775 (65.34) This young man's name was, we think, Stephen Crossfield Jr. His portrait tells us that Stephen enjoyed spending his free time playing the game of "Battledore and Shuttlecock," a game very much like badminton. Over two hundred years ago when Stephen lived, there were few toys, so children played games like "Battledore and Shuttlecock"—often indoors —like the two boys shown here. Other games which Stephen might have played are pictured below. Can you identify them? Write their name under each illustration. Stephen was about 10 years old when he posed for his portrait. He might appear older because in Colonial times children were expected to dress as adults. Stephen's clothes are like his father's: tight knee breeches, a vest, coat and a grey wig. Imagine playing in this outfit today!. You might want to try making your own shuttlecock at home and then play this game as Stephen would have.
To Make Your Own Shuttlecock You Will Need: A Cork Ball 10 Chicken Feathers (look for packets of multicolored feathers at a local craft store). Wood Primer Awl (a pointed instrument for making holes) Paint Paintbrush 1. Paint the cork ball with wood primer. 2. When it dries, use sandpaper to smooth the surface. 3. Paint it a bright color. 4. Use an awl to punch 10 holes at the tip of the ball. 5. Dip the feather points in glue and place them in the holes.
To Play Battledore and Shuttlecock at Home 1. Use a table tennis paddle as a battledore. 2. Count how many times you and your partner can keep the ball in the air, while chanting:
"Shuttlecock, shuttlecock Tell me true How many years have I to go through One, two, three... (and so on, until it falls to the ground). Daniel Crommelin Verplanck John Singleton Copley, 1771 (49.12) Now walk into Gallery #217 and meet Daniel Crommelin Verplanck shown with his pet squirrel. Daniel lived with his family on Wall Street in Manhattan but his portrait, painted in 1771, may have been inspired by his family's country home on the Hudson River in upstate New York. He is nine years old and wears the same formal clothes as Stephen Crossfield, although his short haircut makes him look more his age. When Daniel lived, squirrels were popular pets, along with monkeys, deer, birds, cats and dogs. Follow these tracks to discover another kind of pet which Daniel might have owned.
43 / I Mrs. Samuel Mifflin and Her Grand daughter Rebecca Mifflin Francis Charles Willson Pealc, 1777 (22.153.2) To the right of Daniel Verplanck's portrait, you will find the portrait of Mrs. Samuel Mifflin and her granddaughter Rebecca. Rebecca's grandmother holds an emblem book which describes the proper behavior for young ladies. It was also important for girls in early America like Rebecca to learn how to sew, knit, card wool, piece quilts, paint, stitch samplers and do needlepoint. These skills were taught at home. List some skills which you have learned at home from your parents.
Girls like Rebecca learned the alphabet and the values of neatness and patience by stitching samplers. A sampler is a cloth embroidered with different designs. Often it would include one's name, the date, designs of animals, trees, people, flowers and a verse about oneself. Rebecca's sampler may have read:
Rebecca Francis is my name America my nation Philadelphia is my dwelling place And Christ is my salvation.
On the next page, design your own sampler. Be sure to include a verse about yourself.
Now, journey to a Long Island Farm. Find this painting in Gallery #219.
Cider Making William Sidney Mount, 1841 (66.126) Making cider was a common pastime among farmers and one in which entire families could take part. You may notice that this painting is different from the formal portraits you have seen because the people are not posed, but instead, are shown going about their daily activities. In this painting, William Sidney Mount illustrated many activities involved in cider making. Look closely to discover how this Long Island family made cider in the 1800's. Check off the activities listed below as you find them in the painting.
A man in a white smock straining the apple juice into a barrel A horse pulling a wheel to mash the apples into pulp A bearded man working the cider press A man holding a whip sampling the apple juice from a jug An artist sketching next to the fence A girl and a boy sipping the cider out of a barrel from straws
8 Now that you have seen cider being made, do you want to make some? The recipe below is for fresh cider. Does it look like hard work?
Recipe For Making Cider at Home
A Bushel of Apples Wine Press Wood Bowl Steel Chopper Slaw Slicer Cheesecloth
Making Apples Into Pommace 1. Cut each apple into small pieces with a knife or slaw cutter (a tool for slicing fruits and vegetables). 2. Chop these pieces in a wooden bowl. Pressing The Pommace 1. Use the smallest sized wine press holding 1-2 gallons of pommace. 2. Place a pail on the floor under the spout of the press. 3. Tie several layers of cheesecloth over the pail to strain the cider as it runs from the press. 4. Place a clean cloth inside the cage of the press so it forms a bag. Fold the edges of the cloth over the top of the cage. 5. Fill the inside to the top with pommace. Pack it down. 6. Fold the cloth over the top of the cage and turn the rod of the press. Pressing should be done gradually in the space of 4-5 hours. 7. When the last drop of juice is pressed from the pommace, you have made sweet cider. The Rocky Mountains. Lander's Peak Albert Bierstadt, 1863 (07.123)
10 Now walk into gallery #221 and find the painting of an Indian Settlement in the Rocky Mountains. This Sho shone Indian Camp is full of excite ment. Check when you have found what they have brought back from the hunt. bear deer fish goat moose wild cat Dogs were important hunting part ners for Indian braves. How many can you count in the painting?
11 Symbol for bird
Split feather shows the owner received scars in battle
Symbol for number of prisoners taken
One Indian brave has brought home a bear. Only a very courageous and skillful hunter could kill such a ferocious animal. To show his bravery, he might add another eagle feather to his headdress. Can you find who might have killed the bear? Count how many eagle feathers he wears. Once the men returned from the hunt, the women scraped and cleaned the hides for use in making clothing and building teepees. Often Indians would describe their heroic deeds on their teepees. Find the symbols decorating the Shoshone teepee in Bierstadt's painting. You may want to use them or other authentic Indian symbols shown above. Decorate your own teepee on the following page.
12 13 Snap the Whip Winslow Homer, 1872 (50.41) As you walk into Gallery #222, find the painting of boys spending their school recess playing a game called Snap the Whip. This game was as popular then as tag is today. By locking hands and pivoting in a circle, these boys try to whirl the last person in line off the chain. Have they done this yet?
Notice how their play clothes differ from those of Stephen Crossfield who lived over one hundred years before.
In the space to the right, sketch yourself playing a favorite school-time game or sport. Be sure to include what type of clothes you wear.
14 My Favorite Sport
15 The Family of Alfrederick Smith Hatch Eastman Johnson, 1871 (26.97) Conclude this hunt with a visit to the parlor of the Hatch family's house in New York City. Find their large family portrait directly across from Homer's Snap the Whip. The wreath in the one unshuttered window shows that the family might be gathered during the Christmas holiday. Check when you have found:
Mary who is sitting by the fireplace looks as if she might be reading one of the new magazines published for young people after the Civil War.
Horace and Jane are working together on a jigsaw puzzle. Horace is the one without the apron. Don't be fooled by his dress. In those days it was common for little boys to wear dresses until the age of four or five. William is busy writing at the sofa.
John, the eldest son, stands behind William.
Jessamine, one of the youngest children holds an instrument. What is it?
16 Now try making your own jigsaw puzzle at home by pasting the portrait of the Hatch family onto cardboard and cutting the picture into pieces.
17 18 Now that you have seen some of the ways American children spent their free time growing up, can you solve this puzzle?
Across 1. STITCHING A 2. SNAP 3. DANIEL'S PET: 4. MASHING APPLES TO MAKE Down 5. AND SHUTTLECOCK 6. PUZZLE 7. EAGLE SHOW BRAVERY
19 Written by Eugenie W. Havemeyer Edited by Barbara Pollard, Mary B. Shepard, Elizabeth Flinn Designed by Agnes Anderson Young People's Programs, 1984