Recent Website Updates

This chalk drawing was brought to our attention by its current owner. Though we will work on getting a better picture please enjoy this new addition to the catalogue.

This 1937 painting has a perspective of Mount Equinox never before seen in RSW's work.

Fitting with our effort to provide the best images of avaliable. We recently re-shot new pictures of this early Woodward paintings of the interior of the Keach home using a new technique to reduce the glare from the high gloss RSW used early in his career.

Another new image from the estate's sepia collection (the previous was A Hill Road below). This painting is one of several "Editorial" paintings RSW painted between 1929 and 1933, at the rise of the American Art Scene Moverment. The painting was widely exhibited culminating in it being invited to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1936 by its director Robert Harshe.

As we work to launch the new Sketchbook Gallery we realized that it would be a good idea to start rolling out the individual pages of the new ones for you to enjoy. We start with the sketches we qualify as "drawings." This is to say they had to meet a criteria of completeness without evidence of hast or brevity. This includes shading and skies with clouds. See the next column for links...

Barn Along the Orchard

Camel's Hump

Clouds Over Equinox

Deerfield Church

Diginity of Age

Distant Drama

Down a Shaded Road

Endless New England

Haying Time

Low in the Valley

Majestic Farm

Some of RSW's early paintings were painted in a style of impasti so heavy on the brush it has ridges that pick up the slightest light from any direction, New Hay has been our greatest challange because of the dark browns and blacks used to paint the inside if the Keach barn. The glare from this painting is so distracting it makes it difficult to fully appreciate its vibrancy. To date this is our best effort yet...

Not only did we just recently correct some information on this page but we have also come across prints the allow us to offer the viewer a better look at this painting.

We recently heard from the owner of this wonderful 1927 chalk drawing. It was featured in the October issue of McCall's magazine accompanying an essay written by Corinne Roosevelt Aslop, cousin of Eleanor Roosevelt. We always wondered how this came to be but now seeing how it was drawn suspect that RSW drew it specifically for print.

For some time now, we of extended an offer to the owners of unnamed Woodward's. In Woodward's time he permitted buyers of his work direct from his studio to name the paintings they were purchasing if not already named. In that tradition we offered owners of unnamed paintings to select a name so that they may join the regular alphabetical galleries. This is the first painting to take advantage.

In the constant pursuit of digitalizing the archive of Woodward's papers and documents, we have also been updating the images on the website in new high-resolution pictures. Regarding this particular painting, RSW commented in his personal diary in 1932 as he was painting it. We have updated those images and transcribe them for your convenience, enjoy!

New color pictures of this wonderfully bright and vibrant Heath pasture and Beech Tree scene.

New, clear and crisp pictures of the early 1920s painting. The picture shows a better look of the pink reflection on the snow in what is probably a setting sun.

Another photograph that appears similar to paintings of the same subject. This one in particular is early 1930s, years before the hurricane of 1938 which wiped out the Charlemont Bridge featured. All but one of these paintings were painted after the '38 storm.

Found in a series of color slides left in Woodward's personal items is this previously unknown south window painting. The slide had some damage but it is clearly different from the only other known south window painting June Sun. From the same slides we included to photos of the south south window arrangements, in color, as it was in the 1940s.

We have always had a black and white image of this painting. What we didn't know is that the black and white prints were actually color pictures printed black and white. The color images were made into slides recently discovered in RSW's personal items. As an extra treat we added a color pic of a studio dinner table setting and arrangement.

Among the recently discovered color slides was a photograph of this barn appearing much the way it does in RSW's 1947 painting but from a different vantage point. The color pictures are from the early 1940s and we bleieve it was 1942 to be more precise.

When revising and adding new pictures to Bennington Church page (see below: 2 rows down) we were reintroduced to the 1940 Yankee Magazine feature on Woodward. In that article was a picture of this painting. We already had a sepia image of this painting but it a bit blurred. We added the magazine pic for its better focus.

Among the recently discovered color slides was a photograph of Woodward's Heath Studio garage from almost the exact perspective found in these paintings! Another excellant example for our exploration into what role photographs had in Woodward's work.

For the first time ever, we are sharing more intimate pictures of Woodward left in his personal items after his passing. HERE we share 3, never before seen photographs of RSW painting "The Hills" from his beloved Heath pasture, under the Beech tree, near the edge of the ledge.

Another never before seen photograph of Woodward in his '36 Packard painting this artwork. You cannot see RSW very well. The picture was taken from a distance but reading his diary comments adds a great deal of importance. This picture was taken, probably by Dr. Mark, the day before he was to leave for the Air Force in 1944.

In an effort to digitalize every photograph left to Woodward's estate from his personal items. We are finding a few pics related to, if not exactly but close enough, in perspective to known paintings raising the question of how much RSW used photos in making them. This chalk drawing, however, is what we believe to be emblematic of RSW's larger philosophical view.

Another couple of photos found in RSW's personal items of the balcony at his Southwick Studio. One, in particular, has a similar perspective but the table setting arrangement is different, the other is from a different vantage point but shows a similar table setting.

As part of RSW's personal items we found 2 photos of the Potter Homestead in Greenfield, MA. The pinting was to be part of the Garvin commission which consisted of mostly churches. This is the only home we know of painted. Also part of the Garvin commission is the Bennington Church (the next row down).

In light of new information regarding RSW's good friend actress Beulah Bondi, particularly from Helen Patch's recollection we have revised the page devoted to her adding more specific details to when Bondi visited RSW and reported some exciting news about her estate./

As we continue to pore over RSW's papers we learn of more exhibitions. The two most recent additions are significant... (1) 1926, Josephine Everett lent two Woodward's to the Los Angeles Museum of Fine Arts. This is much earlier than we expected the two to have had a relationship. (2) 1937 the Inaugural Exhibition of Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC. Today one of the most highly regarded museums in the country.

The next three updates are related to our attempt to digitalized ALL the images we have from Woodward's personal item left in his estate. In the collection we located a photograph that nearly mirrors the subject matter of these to related paintings of Monadnock from East Jaffrey, NH.

In old photographs in RSW's personal items we found these two pictures of the Bennington Church, one of which looks to be very close to the painting's perspective raising the question of how much Woodward use photographs to paint artwork from his studio.

In old photographs in RSW's personal items we found this photograph of the "Goodnough" house in West Halifax, VT. It was the neighboring farm to his beloved Halifax House. The picture appears nothing like the perspective of the painting, however, we do wonder if it may have been used as a reference point to paint the scene.

The website has been busy digitalizing ALL the pictures in the estate scrapbooks. In that process we came across this old pic of the Griswold maple trees and sugar house seen in these works of art. The picture has been added to the pages.

Digitalizing all the pictures in the estate's scrapbooks we discovered a picture of this painting better than the one we had and have now updated the page.

Digitalizing all the pictures in the estate's scrapbooks we discovered a picture of this painting better than the one we had and have now updated the page.

The website has been busy digitalizing ALL the pictures in the estate scrapbooks. In that process we came across this old pic of Woodward in his Packard painting en plein aire this very piece. These pictures are some of the best samples we have of him working from the touring car. Also, he just so happen to note the pictures as , "Beecher's Pasture (Leyden)" and so we have changed the name of this Unnamed painting to reflect its location.

Digitalizing all the pictures in the estate's scrapbooks we discovered a picture of this painting better than the one we had and have now updated the page. This image has been difficult to get a true representation of its appearance because all we have is the magazine cover on which it appeared and the colors used in print (particularly the yellow) is a bit over saturated, as well as, faded by time. We will continue to work to get it as close as we can.

Digitalizing all the pictures in the estate's scrapbooks we discovered a picture of this painting better than the one we had and have now updated the page. This image stamped, "Oct 88", has been re-scanned and is better than the previous one. Unfortunately, the image is still not as high a quality as we would like.

This painting once appeared on the original website and in the process of updating and redesigning the website... got lost in the shuffle. It is the ONLY painting we have come across in the 11 years of the new design to have been misplaced. Leaving no piece of work behind, it has now been added to the Unnamed Gallery where it belongs.

Helen is a friend made from his childhood and became a life long pen pal. If not for Helen's foresight to save her letters from RSW we would know next to nothing about RSW's personal views and interest. We would know so little about his recovery from his accident... A page dedicated to her has been LONG over due! She is in her own right an amazing and accomplished person, please enjoy our story...

This new illumination was recently discovered in papers related to Helen Ives and later given to RSW's cousin Florence by her sister-in-law Anna after Helen's death.

Made for print, we believe while RSW was making his way as an illustrator, this piece is one which he also wrote the verse! RSW does not mention the publication this piece was published, nor the date.

This signed painting by RSW came up for auction online January 28, 2019 and sold for $600.

An interesting piece, we believe, this painting was made very early in his career, and most likely in his childhood. If this is the case, it is the earliest example we have of RSW spelling out his entire name to sign a painting. There is SO much about this piece that raises a multitude of questions and speculation...

Victor is one of the friends who was most likely with RSW the day of his tragic gun accident. Fast friends through their mutual love of literature and philosophy during their brief year together at Bradley. After graduating from the University of Chicago, Victor was in Los Angeles working for RSW's father as a secretary for the Briggs Realty Company. Victor went on to become the first head of the newly formed Political Science department at Stanford University.

After revising the Boston Theme Gallery to reflect our most recent research we also sought to amend the scrapbook story regarding the Boston trip RSW made in 1930. A critical examination of the Boston paintings raised a number of questions as to exactly what was RSW's complicated relationship with Boston itself. We attempt to draw out the relationship's value as well as its flaws. Both essays reflect our effort to put RSW's career and legacy into context.

For the longest time there was a great deal of confusion regarding how many "Oyster House" paintings there are. We believe we have finally straigthened out the problem after comparing our exhibition list to RSW's dairy comments and newspaper articles we have sorted much of it out and an impending Scapbook page is coming... (continued in the next entry)

... The Boston theme gallery now reflects what we believe are the actually paintings painted from his stay in 1930 for the celebration of Boston's 300th birthday. Given the revisions to Boston Romance: The Oyster House and In Old Boston, Oil, we have also revised the original chalk drawing RSW made. He never names the drawing in his diary but we have settled on The Oyster House, Chalk for the time being.

You learn something new everyday... We have always wondered why RSW would vary his spelling of the word grey/gray. For a time we thought his use of "gray" was a reference to color and that "grey" was more a mood. Well the discovery of this chalk drawing might change that theory or at the least put a kink in it.

Auctioned by the Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Thomaston, ME, on November 11, 2018. We learned that not only did we have the name wrong but the name we had this painting listed under is believed to be a previously unknown chalk drawing with a slightly varied name, Gray Heights!

On November 11, 2018, the painting Grey Heights was auctioned by the Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Thomaston, ME, and sold for a hammer price of $8,500. Visit our Auction Page for more...

This previously unknonw chalk was brought to our attention by its current owner. It is of a solitary farm from a distant field with a backdrop of rolling hills and a big sky above. A closer look, which we provide, shows a woman leading a couple horse while laundry hangs to dry on the clothes line. A truly unique piece!

This is embarassing to admit but for the longest time we took this bookplate to be for a Mr. Meredyth and a Mrs. Whitehouse when in reality this is the bookplate for prominant Chicago architect Francis Meredyth Whitehouse and his wife Mary Armour. The bookplate was for their Manchester by the Sea (MA) estate Crowhurst. We include new information and pictures!

This wonderful unsigned and unnamed 36 x 42 painting, we believe, depicts a farmer leading his oxen pulling a buckboard carraige to collect sap late in the season, sometime around early spring. From its brush style, we believe it was painted sometime after 1935. It features a wide spreading maple, on a knoll, with 3 red buckets attached.

In what appears to be painted in his early impressionistic impasto style, this piece illustrates an almost playful mirroring of clouds above with an orchard of apple trees in bloom below. It is interesting to consider if this really occurred and it inspired RSW to capture it or did he take some dramatic license and intentionally painted the clouds in a matching pattern?

For a number of years now we have been trying to gather any information we can regarding the identity of Mrs. Herring. We have learned that more often than not, woman from prominant families often assumed their husband's name but kept thier own sans today's custom of using a hyphen. Eugenia Beetle is of the whaling industry's New Bedford Beetles. Visit the page for more...!

In a rarity for chalk drawings we have had a high quality black and white picture of this piece for many years. Now we finally have a color picture sent to us by its current owner. It is of the unfinished silo, with the make-shift scaffolding that looks to be fragile at best, RSW painted several times from varying angles.

After many years in California having once been owned by close friend, actress Beluah Bondi and her estate, this beautiful autumn painting has come home to New England! Recently cleaned and restored at the Williamstown (MA) Art Conservation Center and on exhibit until Oct. 31st at the PVMA... we may have the pictures but they do not compare to seeing it in person. GO SEE IT!

Also recently cleaned and restored is this early composite painting of Clark Brook frozen in winter heading towards the Deerfiled River. Besides it being a rare composite painting, it also shows the subtle feature of a setting moon in the west. Also on exhibit until Oct. 31st at the PVMA... we may have the pictures but they do not compare to seeing it in person. GO SEE IT!

Added to the complete works list is this previously unknonw painting cited by Mrs. Helen Patch in her letters to the Deerfield Academy's American Studies Group in June of 1970. We do not know if she got the name correct because there is already a 1921 painting by the same name but we will keep it in the catalogue until we learn otherwise.

Previously unknown to us this painting comes to us from its current owner. It is one of those quintessential New England scenes that fits into multiple catagories... roadside, tree, autumn, rock walls and ledge, a fence, a wood pile, with just a glimpse into a distant field and hills beyond. A classic New England landscape, thus the name ascribed to it by us.

While revising the image for Down an August Road it was determined that this painting could not have been the painting later cut down and renamed Early Autumn. THEY ARE DIFFERENT SEASONS! Upon further review, examining diary comments and exhbition records we not only determined that the "cut-down" painting is In Early Autumn but that there were two previously unknown chalk drawings:
Early Autumn, Chalk and
The Road Home
related to The Home Road

This painting came up for auction and sold this July. We first learned of this painting 20 years ago when it went up for auction in New Hampshire but have never seen it in person until now. The only painting in RSW's catalog of its size, at nearly hundred years old it is in excellent condition!

This wonderful tribute to RSW holds many interesting facts and tidbits, however, what is most impressive are the 6 paintings featured. Five of the paintings are the ONLY good quality images we have! What's more is to this day we do not know their whereabouts. It is remarkable for one article to contain so much value.

From the article in October, 1946, American Artist Magazine we captured 5 new images of the paintings featured.Tthe paintings are the ONLY good quality images we have! What's more is to this day we do not know their whereabouts...

Finally, there is also a fully transcribed page dedicated to the article
CLICK HERE

In an oversight, we missed the inclusion of this wonderful unfinished chalk drawing found with 11 others in an old shipping crate in an attic. This drawing, mostly in preliminary sketch form, lays out the entire West Hawley (MA) farm including the barn featured in both:

We have also added a graphic to these pages illustrating the area.