Title in Caroline Armington’s etching record book: Wilbur Wright Monument Unveiled July 17, 1920 at Le Mans (trees in background)

Year: 1920

Number: 231

Size:

States: 3

Title on Print: Wilbur Wright Monument Unveiled July 17, 1920 at Le Mans

Initials or Signature and Date in Plate:

Planned Edition: 100

Total Number of Impressions: 13

Numbers in Pencil:

4/28 dedicated ‘’To Jane Reece with best wishes from Caroline Armington Paris 1922’’

5/28 dedicated ‘’To Katharine Wright from Caroline Armington’’

9/100 with inscription ‘’From Caroline H. Armington, Paris, 1920’’

Signature in Pencil: Caroline Armington and Caroline H. Armington

Dedications:

‘’To Jane Reece with best wishes from Caroline Armington Paris 1922’’

‘’To Katharine Wright from Caroline Armington’’

Caroline Armington’s etching record book contains the following notes for this print:

1st state 1 print destroyed

2nd 1

3rd 28, 1 to 28

Numbered 1 to 28

Several marked xx/100

Plate destroyed after 28 prints

15 numbered prints

Destroyed June 21st 1930

c.a.

Price in Caroline Armington’s etching record book: none

Plate: plate was destroyed in 1930

Collections:

Dayton Art Institute

Dayton History, Carillon Historical Park, Hawthorn Hill Mansion

Exhibitions:

Publications:

Comments:

• Caroline Armington made two etchings of the : Wilbur Wright Monument with the same title:

-CA-230 ‘’Wilbur Wright Monument Unveiled July 17, 1920 at Le Mans (church in background)’’

and,

-CA-230 ‘’Wilbur Wright Monument Unveiled July 17, 1920 at Le Mans (trees in background)’’

 

• The monument was installed in the center of the city of Le Mans, Place des Jacobins, at the crossing of Wilbur Wright Street and Paderborn Avenue. (see photo).

It shows engraved at its base the following text (translated from French): ‘’ Monument offered to the City of Le Mans and to the department of La Sarthe by Commodore Louis D. Beaumont of Dayton (Ohio) and by a great number of generous American and French donators.’’

 

The monument was dismantled on April 16, 2012 for giving room to a new tramway line and for the new setting of the square.

The monument was reinstalled on September 2013 at its new location in the park of L’Ile-aux-Planches, on the Iron Bridge, Le Mans, France.(see photo).

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• Marilyn Baker, “WILKINSON, CAROLINE HELENA (Armington),” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 16, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003

 ‘’Caroline was also adept at negotiating contracts that had the potential to generate multiple prints. In September 1920 she finished a commission for the Aero Club of America to etch the Wilbur Wright monument (unveiled the previous July) in Le Mans.’’

 

The Dictionary of Canadian Biography informed us that this was based on an article published in The Winnipeg Telegram of September 1, 1920. We have not been able so far to verify that source.

 

In 1923, the Aero Club of America was renamed National Aeronautic Association (NAA).

On Mach 11, 2021 Mrs. Stephanie Griffith, Director of the NAA advised us that there is no artwork of Caroline Armington in the art collection of the NAA nor that there is any record of a commission of the Aero Club of America for the etching of the Wilbur Wright monument in Le Mans by Caroline Armington.

 

In 1923 and 1924 various articles in two Dayton newspapers mentioned that the French government had commissioned Caroline Armington to etch the Wilbur Wright monument in Le Mans.

Some of these articles mentioned that the plates were destroyed after making 50 prints. No explanation was given for the destruction of the plates. One article reported that the plates were given to the French government.

Caroline Armington Etching Record Book mentions that two etchings of this monument were produced in 1920 (CA-230 and CA-231).

Notes for these etchings in the Etching Record Book do not refer to the Aero Club of America nor to the French government. In addition, they mention that the plates were destroyed after 30 prints for CA-230 (28 prints for CA-231) and that most of the prints were destroyed in 1930.

 

Therefore, it can be assumed that Caroline Armington was not commissioned by the Aero Club of America or by the French government for these etchings or that any of these commissions did not materialize.

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• Hawthorn Hill Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Oakwood, Ohio, Carillon Historical Park, Hawthorn Hill Mansion.

In their collection, print number 5/28 dedicated ‘’ To Katharine Wright from Caroline Armington’’

 

Hawthorn Hill, built between 1912 and 1914 in Oakwood, Ohio, served as the residence of airplane inventor Orville Wright for the last 34 years of his life. The colonial revival mansion also served as the home of his sister, Katharine Wright Haskell, from 1914 until her 1926 marriage; of their father, Bishop Milton Wright, from 1914 until his death in 1917;

 

• The Dayton Art Institute has prints

CA-231 No 4/28 dedicated ‘’To Jane Reece with best wishes from Caroline Armington Paris 1922’’

and

CA-230 No 2/30 with dedication ‘’To Jane Reece from Caroline H. Armington Paris 1922’’ in its collection.

 

Jane Reece (June 18, 1868 – June 10, 1961) was a highly acclaimed American pictorial photographer of the early 20th century. She lived most of her life in Dayton, Ohio and was active in the local, national and international photography scenes. During her 40-year career she exhibited in more than 100 photography salons and shows around the world, receiving many awards, prizes and honors. Reece is now recognized as one of Dayton's most prominent artists.

It is known that between 1919 and 1923 Jane Reece traveled extensively, for a brief time setting up a studio in Paris. 

During her stay in Paris, she made a portrait (photo) of Caroline Armington in 1922 (Also in the collection of the Dayton Art Institute).

Therefore, it can be assumed that the two prints were dedicated and given to Jane Reece during her stay in Paris.

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As per various articles in two Dayton newspapers in 1923, these two prints were brought back from Paris by Jane Reece in 1923.

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• Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio, July 12 and October 24, 26 & 28, 1923

This newspaper reports that:

-Jane Reece will exhibit the two Caroline Armington’s etchings at her gallery in Dayton,

-Jane Reece has made a portrait of Caroline Armington when she was in Paris,

-Jane Reece brought back with her the etchings of the monument for Katharine Wright,

-The French government was in possession of Caroline Armington plates for these etchings.

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• Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio, June 22 1924

This newspaper reports that:

-Caroline Armington will be the guest of Jane Reece,

-Caroline Armington will exhibit her etchings at Jane Reece gallery in Dayton,

-Caroline Armington had destroyed the plates but that the French government had some prints.

-One of the prints was acquired (with a dedication?) by Mrs. Penelope Perrill (the Daily News columnist).

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