The Boston Athenaeum, founded in 1807, had moved its location twice when James Perkins give to it his house at 13 Pearl Street, on the west side near High Street. After the house and that next to it had been converted and remodeled into a single structure under the direction of Solomon Willard, the third of Boston’s triumvirs of the Greek Revival, the Athenaeum occupied the building in 1822 (Mabel M. Swan, The Athenaeum Gallery, 1827–1873, Boston, 1940, p. 3). Here the Athenaeum remained until 1849, when it built its present quarters on Beacon Street. The interior of the Pearl Street xvbuilding was described in 1829: “On entering, the visitor finds himself surrounded with the busts and statues of heroes and learned men of antiquity. At his left ... is the Reading Room, in which are found the newspapers and journals of the present day, with complete files of periodical publications for many years back. In this room it is contrary to etiquette, to hold any conversation whatever. On the right is a large and convenient room where the proprietors hold their meetings, and the trustees transact their business. This room is tastefully decorated with statuary and paintings. The Librarian’s room and a conversation room, complete the apartments on the lower story. The second and third story contain the library” (Bowen’s Picture of Boston, Boston, 1829, p. 38–39).

In 1826 it became possible to proceed with plans to construct a separate building on the Pearl Street property in the rear of the library to house a gallery of paintings and a lecture hall (see below, p. 124–125, 235). Plans for the building were made by Willard, and the Athenaeum. Gallery held its first public exhibition of paintings in May 1827.

Visible to the right in Bowen’s engraving is the windowless third story “lighted only from the top, in a manner peculiarly adapted for the exhibition of Paintings” (Bowen’s Picture of Boston, p. 39–40, facing p. 204; Caleb H. Snow, Geography of Boston, Boston, 1830, p. 105–106).