“C.A. Ficke & the Birth of a Museum" at the Figge Art Museum -- October 2.
Thursday, October 2, 6 p.m.
Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport IA
On October 2, patrons of Davenport's Figge Art Museum are invited to learn more about C.A. Ficke, the founder of the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery (now the Figge), with historian Dr. William Roba in C.A. Ficke & the Birth of a Museum, a special Thursdays at the Figge presentation sponsored by Chris and Mary Rayburn.
Charles A. Ficke was born in Boitzenburg, Kingdom of Prussia on April 21, 1850. His parents, along with their eight children, emigrated to Scott County, Iowa, when he was two years old. His parents were successful farmers throughout the late 19th century. In the 1860s, Charles Ficke began working his way through various business positions in Davenport, working as a salesman, in insurance, and eventually as a lawyer. Eventually, he became active in the Scott County Republican Party and gained popularity among the many other German American emigrants in the area. Ficke married Fannie Davison in 1882, and their children include Arthur Davison Ficke, Alice Ficke Simonsen, and Helene Ficke Watzek.
As he gained business and political success, Ficke began collecting art. In 1890, he was elected to the first of his two terms as mayor of Davenport, and was also the president of the Davenport Turner Society around this time. In 1886, 1892, 1901, 1902, and 1903, Ficke and Fannie Davison made trips to Mexico, collecting art and rare books along the way. They consulted Professor Leandro Izaguirre when making some of the purchases, and Ficke made multiple trips to Europe and collected art there, as well, mostly old master prints.
Beginning in 1920 and continuing until his death in 1931, Ficke and his family distributed the collection to cultural institutions in Iowa. His art collection of 334 European and Mexican paintings was the founding donation for the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery, which was established with state legislation after the donation. It was the precursor for the current Figge Art Museum, and Ficke's books were donated to the Davenport Public Library. In 1943, Manuel Toussaint, a notable Mexican art historian and author, traveled to Davenport to assess Ficke's collection of Colonial Mexican painting. He called it one of the most important in an American institution and published his findings.
Dr. William Roba will present C.A. Ficke & the Birth of a Museum at the Davenport venue on October 2, with the 6 p.m. history talk preceded by the 5 p.m. opening of the Figge bar with food options available (cards only). Participation in the Thursdays at the Figge event is free, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7804 and visiting FiggeArtMuseum.org.
