Wellesley Historical Society’s lithograph by Isaac Sprague IV reminds us of spring’s bloom
Sprague is a familiar name in Wellesley: one need only look to the iconic Sprague Memorial Clocktower or the Sprague Elementary School. Isaac Sprague V (1859-1934) was a town benefactor and a highly influential figure in Wellesley’s civic and cultural development, with a deep dedication to education and public access. Sprague served on many town committees and as Town Selectman. He was the president of the Wellesley Club from 1910-1912 and the first ever President of the Wellesley Historical Society, serving from 1925 until his death in 1934.
Influential in a very different capacity was Isaac Sprague IV (1811-1895), father of Wellesley’s beloved benefactor. The elder Sprague was a career artist and botanical illustrator. He famously worked alongside John James Audubon, accompanying him on an 1843 expedition up the Missouri River.
This lithograph depicting the White Bay flower was completed by Isaac Sprague IV and appeared in the 1882 book “Flowers of the Field and Forest,” a collection of Sprague’s watercolors juxtaposed with text penned by the Reverend A.B. Hervey. Also known as Gordinia, White Bay flowers are striking blooms with rounded white petals and a center of yellow stamens that grow forth from large shrubs native to Florida and Georgia.
Accompanying Sprague’s illustration was an excerpt from the William Cullen Bryant poem “Among the Trees,” a romantic exploration of the relationship between humans and nature. In Reverend Hervey’s note on the flower, he revered Sprague’s artistic ability and carefully observant eye, writing that “Mr. Sprague has reproduced the beauty and elegance of the flower so faithfully that I need not attempt a further description of it in words.”
The lithograph was donated by Albion Billings Clapp in 1958. Its frame is original to the donation, though we are not sure when exactly it was created. It has since been restored.
As April’s object of the month, the lithograph reminds us of spring’s bloom and is a pleasant and eye-catching representative of Sprague’s talent. However, the illustration also shows the importance of artists in disseminating scientific knowledge and study of our natural world. “Flowers of the Field and Forest” would have been used as an educational tool at the time of its publication. It is also a fascinating example of Victorian literature and study. The unusual combination of popular poetry, detailed scientific watercolors, and conversationally written scientific fact would be seen as odd in today’s publishing world, but perfectly common 150 years ago!
Every month, the Wellesley Historical Society highlights an object from its collection. These objects capture Wellesley stories, both those well-known to us and those yet uncovered. Historic artifacts symbolize and convey important narratives, whether that is the hard-working craftsman behind a piece or a written document that shaped the town’s future. As such, the Wellesley Historical Society collections capture the entirety of Wellesley as a town, from significant happenings to sentimental mementos.
Morgan Stevenson-Swadling is Director of Exhibits & Collections at Wellesley Historical Society.