Figure 10. William M. Chase and others on the Tile Club Trip, 1880, photographic print, 8 1/4 x 10 1/4 in., William Merritt Chase papers, circa 1890- 1964, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Verso: 1880 tile Club trip up Hudson River, Erie Canal. Wm. Chase and others. with artistic trappings gleaned from the elaborate studios of Chase and Sarony( fig. 10). As one might imagine,“ the artistic and decorative effect that was produced was excellent …. The divans, that were easily translated into beds; the cushions, that were but pretexts for diurnal concealment of pillows; the piano, the violins, the big dining table, the armchairs and hammocks, the excellent glassware … cutlery … student lamps and Chinese lanterns” were all serviceable and, of course, tastefully selected. 55 The“ major domo and brush-washer,” of this deluxe affair, a black servant named Daniel, was bedecked with a“ snowy linen cap and jacket and a long white apron.” 56 Assisting him was a second servant whom the Tilers named“ Deuteronomy.” It is no wonder that all but two of the members showed up at the pier at West Tenth Street on the morning of June 23, 1879, to partake of this luxury cruise presumably at the expense of Scribner’ s. Tilers who made up the 1879 expedition included O’ Donovan, Laffan, Gifford, Reinhart, Smith, Quartley, Dielman, Chase, Sarony, Weir, Twachtman, Baird, Dr. J. Lewenberg( who played the violin), Antonio Knauth( who played the cello), and Gustave Kobbé( a publisher, music critic and pianist), the last three having been,
along with Baird, elected honorary musician members of the club. The only members missing were Shinn and Homer. Homer had probably dropped out of the club by this time. From this point on, it is difficult to keep an exact count of Tile Club members. It does appear, however, that an effort was made to keep the core group at twelve.
The barge was hitched to a“ community” of forty-two boats being pulled and pushed up the Hudson by tug boats. Five days later, Gifford wrote to his wife Fanny that they were moving at a“ snail’ s pace” and were just arriving in Albany, but wasted no time in beginning sketches:“ Yesterday morning was very pleasant and we made a number of sketches on the different boats, going from one to the other by means of a plank put across from one gunwale to the other.” 57 Much to the amusement of passengers on the other boats, the artists dressed in“ gorgeous costumes.” 58 They also had a large Japanese bell, three feet high, which they struck at mealtime and“ when any remarkable vessel passed by.” 59
To while away the time on their slow river journey, the artists quite appropriately discussed the Hudson River School of art, its members, and their“ good old
Decorative Age or Decorative Craze? 17