Skip to main content
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard., 1961.63.47  Photograph by D…
Sign for the Temperance Hotel
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard., 1961.63.47 Photograph by David Stansbury © 2012 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Photographs and all rights purchased by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Sign for the Temperance Hotel

Original Owner (American, 1787 - 1872)
Dateabout 1826-1842
MediumPainted on pine board and moldings, gold leaf, tin leaf, smalt, and iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including hardware): 47 x 76 5/8in. (119.4 x 194.6cm)
Other (height x width of sign only): 39 1/8 x 76 1/4in. (99.4 x 193.7cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCollection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard.
DescriptionImages: On side one, a white horse pulling a chariot driven by a man in classical garb, with spear held in upraised right hand. On side two, an eagle with upraised wings, perched on globe, flanked by the sun and moon with stars overhead.
Construction: Two boards, grain oriented horizontally, assembled by a tongue-and-groove joint. Moldings, mitered at the corners, are attached to the edges of the panel.
Surface: On both sides, the name band has been repainted in ocher paint with the word "TEMPERANCE" over larger, gold leaf letters used for Gladwin's name. Lettering and images are skillfully executed. The ground layer is a thick, grayish white paint. On side one, there are many drawing lines visible, some not used, which indicate that the chariot image was drawn free-hand, directly on the board. A compass was used to lay out the wheel of the chariot. On side two, details of the crescent moon, stars, eagle talons, and laurel branch were originally executed in tin leaf, now tarnished beyond recall. The red banner in the eagle's beak may have been part of an early version, apparently covered by the artist when he applied the smalt background.
Object number1961.63.47
On View
On view