Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market Linocut by Stanley Scott (Picture Analysis)
Faneuil Hall (the cupola building to the left rear) began as a combination hall and market area in 1742 when the original building was donated by Peter Faneuil. The Dock Square area of Boston has always been a politically, economically, and socially active section of the City. This linocut showing the area in the 1930s is part of a series created by Stanley Scott as part of a Works Progress Administration project. Shem Drowne's grasshopper weathervane prominently sits on the building's cupola.
The other linocuts in Scott's series include King's Chapel, the Old State House, the Old West Church, Park Street Church, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, the Old South Meeting House, the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, the Massachusetts State House, and the Boston Public Library.
Quincy Market (the dome building on the front right), named after Mayor Josiah Quincy was constructed as an indoor pavillion in 1824.
Activity Guide: In a group of 3-4 people, read the following questions as you look at the knowledge print. Informally answer the questions aloud, discussing each question as a group. The purpose of these questions is to involve you in what is going on in each section of the picture.
(Online) This is a linocut print depicting a Boston market place in the 1930s. With this technique, the artist etches into linoleum with a sharp instrument. This media tends to limit fine detail favoring lines, shading, and wide curves. Using a magnifying glass, examine various quadrants of the print.
Verbalize or record evidence proving the artist successfully communicated the scene to us:
List the sights and sounds might we be hearing if we placed ourselves in the picture.
Itemize evidence suggesting that we have entered a business rather than a social environment.
Though congested, list evidence of a sense of order exists on this street.
List types of transportation vehicles that give clues to the jobs of the 1930s.
List specific clues, if any, placing us in the 1930s.
Quincy Market is the domed structure at the center right of the print. Compare the architecture of it and Faneuil Hall, the building at center left by listing common architectural building features used on both of them.
Observing the signage, list the names of business establishments serving the people in the 1930s. Research the business establishments existing in the 1930 census.
Research the architecture of 18th century Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market noting the inclusion of the weathervanes, cupola, dome, pillars, arches, cornices, pediments, columns.
Scan a 1930 Census of the Faneuil Hall Market area in Boston. What types of laborers were employed at that time working in Quincy Market?
Using the Activity Guide above, complete a comparison and contrast of the Quincy Markets of 1939 and 1904.
See the Bostonian Society online search catalog for additional postcards and photographs of the Dock Square, Market Street area (picture: early 1900s) | (picture 2)
Additional photographs of the Faneuil Hall/ Quincy Market area are located at the Boston Public Library in Boston, MA
As of December 21, 2011, you are curious visitor .
Last modified: June 21, 2015
Copyright 2011. This is the intellectual property of Marjorie Duby.
