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The Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery, located on the third floor of Drexel University's Main Building, has been historically restored to its original state by Voith & Mactavish Architects, Philadelphia. The Gallery's walls are covered with a red fabric, the original brass pendant lamps descend from gilded molding, and ebony-colored wainscoting surrounds the room. Anthony J. Drexel, founder of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, believed that education should be both practical and cultural. In the closing years of the 19th century, Mr. Drexel purchased art for the Institute, kept a log of the purchases, which is still in The Drexel Collection™, and exhibited the art in the museum on the first floor of the Main Building. In 1894, Clifford P. Graycon, Director of Drexel Institute's Department of Fine and Applied Arts, offered a teaching position to the illustrator, Howard Pyle, and the art department flourished. The Institute attracted Thomas Eakins as a teacher and students such as Maxfield Parrish, Violet Oakley, Jessie Wilcox Smith and Frank E. Schoonover. In 1902, when the Collection received a substantial gift of 19th century paintings by artists of the Barbizon School and Düsseldorf Academy, the collection required more space and was moved to the Picture Gallery on the third floor. Selected works from The Drexel Collection™ are exhibited in the Westphal Picture Gallery. Other works from the Collection are exhibited in Drexel's Paul Peck Alumni Center, which was designed by Frank Furness in 1876.  Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery, c. 1910 Photo from Drexel Library Archives Museum, c. 1910 |
