PEM in an Hour
10. Rush Figurehead
This gallery focuses on the eternal and universal allure of the sea. Find the figurehead on the wall. These often full-length, female forms decorated the bows of many European and American ships to symbolize protection. This one was the work of William Rush, known as the father of American sculpture in the 19th century. Look how Rush managed to take a humble piece of pine wood and carve it into a swirling, wind swept dynamic scene. You can almost feel the breeze on your own cheek as you look at it. By the time this figurehead showed up at auction in 2015, she had lived quite a life. And as our conservation team learned, she was hiding stories beneath 20 layers of paint. Each layer of color revealed clues about how fashion and taste evolved. At one time, the shawl was burgundy, a hue made fashionable by Queen Victoria around the mid-1800s. Now, fully restored to her original splendor and color scheme, our Rush figurehead invites you to explore the maritime experience.
Now, let’s go together towards the very end of this gallery. You will pass ship portraits and a giant model of the Queen Elizabeth. Keep going to a section called Captain Collectors. Look under the portrait of Captain Cook to find a piece that dates back to the founding of our museum.