Photograph: "Mrs. Barnum's bedroom at Marina"
Scott, Byron
Nancy Fish Barnum (associated with)
Marina (associated with)
Farini (photography firm) (created by)
Nancy Fish Barnum (associated with)
Marina (associated with)
Farini (photography firm) (created by)
1889 – 1890 (Date manufactured/created)
Large photograph showing the elaborately decorated bedroom of P. T. Barnum's second wife, Nancy Fish Barnum. The photograph, mounted on heavy paperboard, is part of a set of interior and exterior views of the Barnums' home Marina in Bridgeport, Connecticut, taken soon after its completion. The home was designed by architects Longstaff and Hurd of Bridgeport in the Queen Anne style and was built between 1888 and 1889, and stood next to the Barnums' 1869 mansion Waldemere, in the area of Seaside Park, facing Long Island Sound. When the new home was completed, Waldemere was dismantled. The photographs were taken by Farini Photographs, likely between 1889-1890.
This photograph is one of several views of Mrs. Barnum's bedroom, and reveals an eclectic style of decor, with a preference for a more delicate, French-influenced look than Mr. Barnum seems to have favored; his tastes ran to a heavier, more "Baroque" style of ornately carved furniture. Prominent in this photograph is a twin-size brass bed that has a partial canopy projecting from the wall along one side. Fancy silk brocade fabric with fringed trim drapes from the canopy frame to rest on the head and foot of the bed, while against the wall in the space under the canopy, light color material, densely gathered, is hung. The long window near the head of the bed is similarly decorated with a swag valence and fringe-trimmed silk draperies surrounding lace curtain panels. The mantelpiece to the left of the bed showcases ornamental items, framed photographs, and a pair of small candelabrum. The paneled wood door near the foot of the bed likely leads to an adjoining room or closet rather than serving as the entrance, as the marble statue at the foot of the bed is inconveniently placed. The sculpture is of a woman in a long gown, but the details cannot be seen; it sits on a slender-legged pedestal.
In the middle- and foregrounds, smaller pieces of furniture and Mrs. Barnum's personal possessions are arranged to present a cozy atmosphere that suggests informality despite the highly-patterned wallpapers and ceiling, silk fabrics, and floral carpeting. The small rocker pulled close to the fireplace is a nod to the Colonial Revival aesthetic of the late Victorian era. A small rattan table in the center of the room holds a kerosene lamp and several books. A chair to the left of the fireplace is draped with a plush velvet throw, and the upholstered chair a few feet away displays a casually tossed silk shawl and a banjo with striped strap. Both the banjo and the ceramic dog figure near the fireplace appear in other photographs, which suggests these were among Nancy's favorite items. The banjo is now in the collection of the Barnum Museum; it is engraved with Nancy Barnum's initials and the date, 1888.
The back of the photo support mount is black, save for the gold print that names the photographer as "Farini Photographs. 61 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn."
This photograph came in a large paper envelope with a stamped area at the top for recording the number of the photograph, its name (title) and remarks. This photograph is noted as No. 10 and "Mrs. Barnum's bedroom at 'Marina'" is filled in under remarks.
Nancy Fish Barnum sent these images to the Joshua Cunliffe family, friends of hers who lived in England. The photographs transferred into the possession of another at some point, and were then obtained by an antiques dealer in Blackford Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, England. The photographs came to the attention of Barnum Museum curator Kenneth B. Holmes, who purchased them on behalf of the museum while in England for Christmas vacation in December 1970. An article about the initial discovery of the photographs were published in the Bridgeport Sunday Post on January 24, 1971.
This photograph is one of several views of Mrs. Barnum's bedroom, and reveals an eclectic style of decor, with a preference for a more delicate, French-influenced look than Mr. Barnum seems to have favored; his tastes ran to a heavier, more "Baroque" style of ornately carved furniture. Prominent in this photograph is a twin-size brass bed that has a partial canopy projecting from the wall along one side. Fancy silk brocade fabric with fringed trim drapes from the canopy frame to rest on the head and foot of the bed, while against the wall in the space under the canopy, light color material, densely gathered, is hung. The long window near the head of the bed is similarly decorated with a swag valence and fringe-trimmed silk draperies surrounding lace curtain panels. The mantelpiece to the left of the bed showcases ornamental items, framed photographs, and a pair of small candelabrum. The paneled wood door near the foot of the bed likely leads to an adjoining room or closet rather than serving as the entrance, as the marble statue at the foot of the bed is inconveniently placed. The sculpture is of a woman in a long gown, but the details cannot be seen; it sits on a slender-legged pedestal.
In the middle- and foregrounds, smaller pieces of furniture and Mrs. Barnum's personal possessions are arranged to present a cozy atmosphere that suggests informality despite the highly-patterned wallpapers and ceiling, silk fabrics, and floral carpeting. The small rocker pulled close to the fireplace is a nod to the Colonial Revival aesthetic of the late Victorian era. A small rattan table in the center of the room holds a kerosene lamp and several books. A chair to the left of the fireplace is draped with a plush velvet throw, and the upholstered chair a few feet away displays a casually tossed silk shawl and a banjo with striped strap. Both the banjo and the ceramic dog figure near the fireplace appear in other photographs, which suggests these were among Nancy's favorite items. The banjo is now in the collection of the Barnum Museum; it is engraved with Nancy Barnum's initials and the date, 1888.
The back of the photo support mount is black, save for the gold print that names the photographer as "Farini Photographs. 61 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn."
This photograph came in a large paper envelope with a stamped area at the top for recording the number of the photograph, its name (title) and remarks. This photograph is noted as No. 10 and "Mrs. Barnum's bedroom at 'Marina'" is filled in under remarks.
Nancy Fish Barnum sent these images to the Joshua Cunliffe family, friends of hers who lived in England. The photographs transferred into the possession of another at some point, and were then obtained by an antiques dealer in Blackford Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, England. The photographs came to the attention of Barnum Museum curator Kenneth B. Holmes, who purchased them on behalf of the museum while in England for Christmas vacation in December 1970. An article about the initial discovery of the photographs were published in the Bridgeport Sunday Post on January 24, 1971.
1970.006.003 ST