Deshong Art Museum
 | |
 | |
| Established | 1914 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | July 1984 |
| Location | Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Type | Art museum |
The Deshong Art Museum is a defunct art museum in Chester, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1914 from the art collection donated by wealthy businessman Alfred O. Deshong on property donated to the city of Chester after his death. At one time, it was the only public art museum on the East Coast. From 1961 to 1978, the building was operated as a library but fell into disrepair and suffered theft of it's art collection. The museum trust was dissolved in 1984 and the art collection is currently displayed at Widener University.
Description
The building was designed to be fireproof with exterior walls of Dover marble.[1] The large main gallery for paintings was modeled after the Emperor of Germany's gallery at Cassel.[2]
It housed over 300 pieces of art including carved Japanese ivory figures, Chinese carved hard stone vessels and 19th century American and European paintings[3] including American Impressionists Edward Redfield, Robert Spencer and George Loftus Noyes[4]
History
Alfred O. Deshong was a wealthy businessman who operated a successful quarry business for years and was a director of the Delaware County National Bank. He invested his fortune in the collection of art. He died in 1913 with no descendants and donated his art collection and his home to the city of Chester. At current valuations, the donation would be worth $24 million.[5]
The Deshong Art Museum was built in 1914 on the same property as his mansion. At one time it was the only public art gallery on the East Coast.[6] From 1961 to 1978 the building was operated as a library, but over the years the museum fell into disrepair.[6]
Art theft
In July 1977 the museum was looted and several pieces of art were stolen.[7] The heist was carried out by 15 year old Laurence McCall[8] from Chester, Pennsylvania who would skip school and frequent the museum. The museum had limited security and McCall was able to steal paintings valued at the time at $450,000 by simply taking them off the wall and sliding them out of the museum's windows.[9] Many of the stolen items were sold through Sotheby's and other art auction houses in New York City.[8] McCall was eventually caught when he was 19. The authorities were not able to prove that he stole the artwork, but he was convicted for failure to pay taxes, sentenced to fifteen years in prison and served three.[9] A majority of the artwork was recovered.[9][10]
Museum closure
In 1979, Widener University leased the building and restored the museum. In July 1984, the museum trust was dissolved and the property was taken over by the Delaware County Industrial Development Authority.[11]. The Asian and impressionistic art collection and $500,000 of the trust were given to Widener University where the collection is currently displayed.[12]
Gallery
-
Allan Piu bella by Francesco Vinea -
Alpine Mountain Scene by Alexandre Calame -
![Child Feeding her Pets (1872) by Gaetano Chierici[13]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Child_Feeding_her_Pets_%281872%29_painting_by_Gaetano_Chierici.jpg/171px-Child_Feeding_her_Pets_%281872%29_painting_by_Gaetano_Chierici.jpg)
Child Feeding her Pets (1872) by Gaetano Chierici[13] -
Departure for the Hunt (1899) by Vladimir Makovsky -
![Hasty Pudding (1883) by Gaetano Chierici[3]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Hasty_Pudding_%281883%29_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Gaetano_Chierici.jpg/295px-Hasty_Pudding_%281883%29_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Gaetano_Chierici.jpg)
Hasty Pudding (1883) by Gaetano Chierici[3] -
Her Japanese Dolls (1872) by Adrien Moreau -
Kindergarten by Otto Piltz -
Meadows in Winter by George Loftus Noyes -
Morning in Thuringia by Barend Cornelis Koekkoek -
![Raspberries on a Leaf (1858) by Lilly Martin Spencer[14]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Raspberries_on_a_Leaf_%281858%29_oil_on_panel_painting_by_Lilly_Martin_Spencer.jpg/319px-Raspberries_on_a_Leaf_%281858%29_oil_on_panel_painting_by_Lilly_Martin_Spencer.jpg)
Raspberries on a Leaf (1858) by Lilly Martin Spencer[14] -
Spirited Conflict (1859) by Alberto Pasini -
The Artists Den by François-Auguste Biard -
The Avalanche (1886) by Girolamo Induno -
Une gardienne du feu sacre de vests by Louis Hector Leroux
![Child Feeding her Pets (1872) by Gaetano Chierici[13]](./wiki.php?slug=File:Child_Feeding_her_Pets_(1872)_painting_by_Gaetano_Chierici.jpg)
![Hasty Pudding (1883) by Gaetano Chierici[3]](./wiki.php?slug=File:Hasty_Pudding_(1883)_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Gaetano_Chierici.jpg)
![Raspberries on a Leaf (1858) by Lilly Martin Spencer[14]](./wiki.php?slug=File:Raspberries_on_a_Leaf_(1858)_oil_on_panel_painting_by_Lilly_Martin_Spencer.jpg)
_by_Albert_Pasini.jpg)
_by_Girolamo_IndunoFXD.jpg)
References
- ^ Architecture and Building, Volume 48. New York: The William T. Comstock Company. 2016. p. 163. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Architecture. C. Scribner's Sons. January 1916. p. 223. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ a b Schaefer, Mari A. "Pieces from Deshong collection go on display at Widener". www.philly.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Chester Magazine fall 2014". www.issuu.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Widener University Art Gallery". ww.visitdelcopa.com. Visit Delco. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ a b Rodgers, Loretta. "Chester community celebrates redevelopment of Deshong Park". Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Alfred O. Deshong Museum". www.oldchesterpa.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Uncommon Knowledge: Why should you take children to an art museum?". www.uncommongood.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Spencer, Gill. "Former art thief could really use a job". www.delcotimes.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "The City - Stolen Art Identified". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ Sullivan, Vince. "Crews undertake demolition of decrepit Deshong Mansion". www.delcotimes.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ Waltzer, Jim. "The Fight to Bring Chester Back From the Brink". www.mainlinetoday.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Widener University Art Collection and Gallery" (PDF). www.myfairleydesign.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ^ "Chester Magazine fall 2014". www.issuu.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.