NEW: Available now is a book written by the artist, David Wells Roth that describes in detail the research and production of the paintings of the Union Oyster House restaurant.  It can be found here: https://www.redwheelbarrowpress.com/the-heritage-art-gallery/  

UNION OYSTER HOUSE COMMISSION - 1995-1997

The Union Oyster House is a Boston national historic site and America’s oldest, continually running restaurant.

The commission included a series of 9 paintings by David Wells Roth, painted in the style and technique of the 1700's.  It includes a series of paintings now hanging on their walls and illustrative panels that were fitted in the windows overlooking Boston’s Freedom Trail representing American and local history of Boston. 

The painting series and panels, which cover Isaiah Thomas (Revolutionary War printer and publisher and founder of The American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA), Count Rumford, Israel Bissell, and the statesmen Daniel Webster, who was a regular client of the restaurant in its early days, were commissioned by Maryanne Milano, one of the owners of the restaurant.

The commission was executed between 1995 and 1997, while Roth was living in France.  Through that time he rented a small studio in Sudbury, Massachusetts to create the paintings and panels. 

Shown here are some of the paintings from the commission.  The following pages tell the story about Isaiah Thomas when he published the Massachusetts Spy newspaper from that site from 1770-1775, and include descriptions, comments and notes by the artist about their development.

To learn more about Isaiah Thomas please visit the American Antiquarian Society website at:  https://www.americanantiquarian.org/

Union Oyster House Series, 1995-1997
Union Oyster House Series, 1995-1997

Please click on the images for enlargments and more information.

Stoker of the Rebellion

Boston, 1770-1775

Tribute to Isaiah Thomas, revolutionary War Patriot and publisher of the Massachusetts Spy newspaper.

 

 

The Sedition Foundry

- was the name given to Isaiah Thomas's printers office by the British authority.  Depicted is an interior view as it may have seemed in November 1771. 

The Summons, Challenging Freedom of Speech

November, 1771.  Isaiah Thomas is being summoned to a hearing for his written attacks on the British authority.  Soon afterwards, he received threats of tar and feathering, and other violence if he continued these publications.

The Escape, Midnight Flight to Freedom

Late on the night of April 16, 1771,  under the threat of seizure by British authorities, Thomas and fellow revolutionaries load his types and press onto the Charlestown ferry to escape the impending danger that has overtaken Boston.

Tidal Passage to Liberty

Dawn, April 19th, 1775.  Isaiah Thomas (standing) and fellow revolutionary, Dr. Warren, row from Boston to Charlestown on the dawn of April 19th , 1775.  Warren stayed in Charlestown while Thomas went on to join the Minute Men in the armed resistance against British forces in Lexington.

Rebuking the Revolutionary Flames in Charlestown

On June 17th, 1775 the British attacked Charlestown. The cannonading of Charlestown had begun...