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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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360 results for: Visual Arts

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Image of Painting of a forest scene on concave surface, ca. 1909

Painting of a forest scene on concave surface, ca. 1909

The daughter of one of Seattle’s founding families, Emily Inez Denny (1853 – 1918) was both a painter and writer. Greatly influenced by seeing the drawings of Sarah Willoughby as a student at the Washington Territorial University, she took on painting as a life-long pursuit. In her 1909 book, "Blazing the Way," Denny writes: “Very tall and grand the firs…
ID Number:1960.2033
Date:Circa 1880-1910
Image of Miniature portrait of Mary Bess Lewis by Gertrude Willison, 1907

Miniature portrait of Mary Bess Lewis by Gertrude Willison, 1907

This miniature portrait was painted on ivory. The artist, Gertrude Willison (1873-1967), was born in Indiana but her family moved to Washington and her father was one of the framers of the state's constitution. Her first art instruction was under Harriett Foster Beecher followed by further study at the Mark Hopkins Institute. For three years she had a studio in…
ID Number:1960.2055.2
Date:1907
Image of Miniature portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Cookingham's son by Gertrude Willison, ca. 1907

Miniature portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Cookingham's son by Gertrude Willison, ca. 1907

This miniature portrait was painted on ivory. The artist, Gertrude Willison (1873-1967), was born in Indiana but her family moved to Washington and her father was one of the framers of the state's constitution. Her first art instruction was under Harriett Foster Beecher followed by further study at the Mark Hopkins Institute. For three years she had a studio in…
ID Number:1960.2055.3
Date:Circa 1907
Image of Painting of Victory Square in Seattle, ca. 1949

Painting of Victory Square in Seattle, ca. 1949

Victory Square was located on University Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues in front of the Olympic Hotel, and was the center of World War II rallies, bond drives, and a monument that lists the names of Washington state citizens who lost their lives during the war. Nothing of the Square remains as the monument was torn down in 1949,…
ID Number:1960.2087
Date:Circa 1949
Image of Ornate brass statue lamp,

Ornate brass statue lamp, "Reveil de la Nature" by Auguste Moreau, ca. 1900

This ornate lamp is from the home of Max Ragley (1861-1933), an early 20th century Seattle pharmacist and druggist who operated the Max Ragley Drug Company in downtown Seattle in the early 20th century. The historic home known as the Max Ragley house was built for him in 1907 at 1625 13th Avenue by architect Thomas L. West. The artist…
ID Number:1961.2309.1
Date:Circa 1900
Image of Painting of Mt. Rainier by Annie M. Nelson, ca. 1900-1920

Painting of Mt. Rainier by Annie M. Nelson, ca. 1900-1920

The Nelson family, including son Carl immigrated from Denmark and homesteaded in 1877 in what is now downtown Kirkland, Washington. Carl became a dentist and eventually met and married Annie (Matthews) Nelson in 1889, and they had a son Stanley. A note from the donor states that her aunt Annie painted this landscape from a photograph given to the Nelson…
ID Number:1961.2335
Date:Circa 1900-1920
Image of Drawing of USS Decatur,

Drawing of USS Decatur, "Seattle-1855," by Hewitt Jackson, ca. 1961

Hewitt Jackson (1914-2007) was a seaman, marine draftsman, and artist. He is best known for his maritime drawings of ships that sailed the Puget Sound and Pacific Northwest. The MOHAI collection contains seven of Hewitt's works. This particular drawing features the USS Decatur which was an armed vessel anchored in Elliott Bay during the "Battle of Seattle" that took place…
ID Number:1961.2441.1
Date:1961
Image of Oil portrait of Charles F. Clise by Charles J. Fox, ca. 1957

Oil portrait of Charles F. Clise by Charles J. Fox, ca. 1957

The Clise family have strong roots in Seattle with JW Clise arriving in this area in 1899, one day after the Great Seattle Fire. Clise helped rebuild the city after that devastation and Clise Properties flourished and Charles Clise continued that legacy. The artist signature, CJ (Charles J.) Fox, was an alias for Leo Fox, a New York artist who,…
ID Number:1962.2613
Date:Circa 1957
Image of Painting,

Painting, "'Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow' Metropolitan Theater (interior), Seattle, Wa." by Robert Fetterly, 1961

Metropolitan Theatre opened in 1911 on University Street in Seattle and featured both live theater and movies. This painting, which won first prize in 1961 in the Changing Scenes in Seattle Art Show, depicts the ceiling and balcony boxes at the time the theatre was being torn down. The artist, Robert Fetterly (1920-2009), worked for Boeing, The Bon Marché, and…
ID Number:1963.2967
Date:1961
Image of Painted portrait,

Painted portrait, "The Artist's Mother," by Louise Crow, 1920-1925

Louise Crow Boyac (1891 – 1968) was born and raised in Seattle, a member of the Moran family. Crow achieved recognition for her Impressionistic landscape and figure paintings. Crow studied with Paul Gustin, Frank Duveneck, Rene Menard, and William M. Chase, winning an award of excellence in the latter’s important class in California. Widely recognized for the brilliance of her…
ID Number:1963.3055
Date:1920-1925
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