The County Election
- Date
- 1851–52
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- made in
- Missouri, United States, North and Central America
- depicts
- Missouri, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- American Art
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 35 7/16 × 48 3/4 in. (90 × 123.8 cm)
framed (approx.): 50 × 62 in. (127 × 157.5 cm) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 124:1944
NOTES
A large group of citizens gathers to place their votes in an election. Campaigning politicians anxiously press their party tickets toward individuals. One of the newest citizens, an Irish immigrant, is taking an oath that he had not voted elsewhere, just as one of the oldest, a Revolutionary War “76-er” veteran, is descending the steps. Merchants in top hats discuss the issues with laborers in shirtsleeves, an example of the rational exchange that sustains democracy.
Other individuals present a less responsible and informed perspective. One drunken citizen, unable to stand, is nonetheless dragged to cast a vote. Another sits on a bench to steady his head, his clarity evidently lost in a brawl. Two boys on the ground play mumblety peg, a knife game that progressively increases in risk. George Caleb Bingham revealed what every American supportive of an election understands: that the democratic ideal must be embraced even though uniformed votes could prevail.
Other individuals present a less responsible and informed perspective. One drunken citizen, unable to stand, is nonetheless dragged to cast a vote. Another sits on a bench to steady his head, his clarity evidently lost in a brawl. Two boys on the ground play mumblety peg, a knife game that progressively increases in risk. George Caleb Bingham revealed what every American supportive of an election understands: that the democratic ideal must be embraced even though uniformed votes could prevail.
Provenance
- 1865
George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879) [1]
1865 - still in 1867
John How (1813-1885), St. Louis, MO, purchased from artist [2]
- 1879
John H. Beach (1829-1893), St. Louis, MO [3]
1879 - 1944
St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, St. Louis, MO, given by John H. Beach [4]
1944 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association [5]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is Bloch's catalogue raisonné, the 1986 edition, cat. no. 259 [Bloch, E. Maurice "The Paintings of George Caleb Bingham." Columbia, MO, University of Missouri Press, 1986]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] According to the Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Saint Louis Mercantile Library, in 1862 George Caleb Bingham placed "The County Election" (124:1944), along with "Stump Speaking" (43:2001), "The Verdict of the People" (45:2001), and "Jolly Flatboatmen in Port" (123:1944), on indefinite loan to the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association ["Seventeenth Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association: January 13, 1863." St. Louis: M'Kee & Fishback, Printers and Binders, 1863, p. 18].
[2] The annual report of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association for 1865 indicated that the four paintings lent by Bingham (123:1944, 124:1944, 43:2001, 45:2001) were now the property of the O'Fallon Polytechnic Institute and would be moved there upon completion of its new building. However, the report for the year 1867 states that John How, former St. Louis mayor and one of the founders of the Institute, was the actual owner of the paintings. ["Twentieth Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association." St. Louis: R.P. Studley and Co., 1866, p. 22; "Twenty-second Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association." St. Louis: R.P. Studley & Co., 1868, p. 14].
[3] John H. Beach gave "The County Election" to the St. Louis Mercantile Library along with the three other paintings by Bingham (123:1944, 43:2001, 45:2001). Beach (1829-1893) was a life member, former President, and Trustee of the Mercantile Library Association. It is unclear how or when he acquired the four paintings ["Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the Board of Direction of the Saint Louis Mercantile Library." St. Louis: Printed for the Association, 1880, p. 18-19].
[4] See note [3].
[5] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control, June 8, 1944. Invoice dated November 9, 1944 [SLAM document files].
George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879) [1]
1865 - still in 1867
John How (1813-1885), St. Louis, MO, purchased from artist [2]
- 1879
John H. Beach (1829-1893), St. Louis, MO [3]
1879 - 1944
St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, St. Louis, MO, given by John H. Beach [4]
1944 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association [5]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is Bloch's catalogue raisonné, the 1986 edition, cat. no. 259 [Bloch, E. Maurice "The Paintings of George Caleb Bingham." Columbia, MO, University of Missouri Press, 1986]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] According to the Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Saint Louis Mercantile Library, in 1862 George Caleb Bingham placed "The County Election" (124:1944), along with "Stump Speaking" (43:2001), "The Verdict of the People" (45:2001), and "Jolly Flatboatmen in Port" (123:1944), on indefinite loan to the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association ["Seventeenth Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association: January 13, 1863." St. Louis: M'Kee & Fishback, Printers and Binders, 1863, p. 18].
[2] The annual report of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association for 1865 indicated that the four paintings lent by Bingham (123:1944, 124:1944, 43:2001, 45:2001) were now the property of the O'Fallon Polytechnic Institute and would be moved there upon completion of its new building. However, the report for the year 1867 states that John How, former St. Louis mayor and one of the founders of the Institute, was the actual owner of the paintings. ["Twentieth Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association." St. Louis: R.P. Studley and Co., 1866, p. 22; "Twenty-second Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association." St. Louis: R.P. Studley & Co., 1868, p. 14].
[3] John H. Beach gave "The County Election" to the St. Louis Mercantile Library along with the three other paintings by Bingham (123:1944, 43:2001, 45:2001). Beach (1829-1893) was a life member, former President, and Trustee of the Mercantile Library Association. It is unclear how or when he acquired the four paintings ["Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the Board of Direction of the Saint Louis Mercantile Library." St. Louis: Printed for the Association, 1880, p. 18-19].
[4] See note [3].
[5] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control, June 8, 1944. Invoice dated November 9, 1944 [SLAM document files].
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.