Recent Website Updates

It is an exciting time here at the website! A subscription to newspapers.com has yielded over 150 news articles and reports on Woodward's comings and goings. Especially from local sources, such as, The North Adams Transcript we have learned so much more about not only RSW's professional life but his private one too. There is so much new information we do not even know where to begin. We decided to start with Woodward's smaller professional exhibits that illustrates his connection to the area and its people, the paintings he contributed to a local PTA and the talk he gave...

... the donation of a painting to a church and another offering to a Shelburne Merchants Association event. We start with the 1928 Chalk Exhibition held at the home of Anna Koch in Greenfield and the two resulting commissions of chalks as RSW's career is really beginning to take off big. There may also be a special gem found in an article of the Johnson Homestead in East Buckland exhibit he hung on the walls with that may be the key to his rising prominence. STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

BCM

The new information will be updated on our Exhibtions and Articles List regularly:

1918 Boston Evening Transcript, October 18

1919 North Adams Transcript, April 18 & 22

1928 North Adams Transcript, Nov. 26 & Dec. 10

A collector of bookplates contacted us after having come across this book plate in possession of an art dealer in Europe. To our amazement, Woodward did make his friend Helen Ives a book plate after all. This was unknown to us, though we have the letter in which RSW proprosed a number of designs, we did not have a letter following up on the proposal.

Check out how much it resembles the Window Paintings he would make 15 to 20 years later.

In our constant effort to gather the best images of Woodward's paintings possible, we re-visited this painting 15 years after fist photographing it. It is a beautiful piece and is one of the first Window Paintings painted by RSW in his then new Southwick Studio in 1937.

We include in our commentary a brief history of his Window Paintings and their evolution, as well as, many close up images of the window's arrangement.

Perhaps there is no more valued an asset to Woodward, especially in his early days, than his horses. He loved them like family. This page is a revised update to an earlier page created by the website founder Dr. Mark Purinton. In our effort to keep his vision alive, over the next year or so we will continue to update and revise his original work without losing his finger print on the site.

Special attention on this page is given to his lesser known horse Tsune (Soo - ney).

We took a trip to Manchester, VT, to get a lay of the land Woodward often traveled and painted. We went to the top of Mount Equinox, visited the Machester Country Club, stoped at Mount Aeolus and swung by the Robert Frost Museum in Shaftsbury. On a whim, late in the day, we set out to find a rock in Pawlet. How could we miss it, right? We found it but almost didn't. We took pictures of it with its autumn foliage as RSW painted it 85 years ago!

Over the past few years, anytime we are spending significant time at the Southwick Studio, we have been cataloging what we can. Many of the knick-knacks and bric-à-brac Woodward collected over the years, some of which appear in his paintings. On a particularly beautiful and sunny day we captured the Italian plate that appears in the painting and have added it to the page for you.

Our efforts to find and collect old newspaper articles related to Woodward he did not keep for himself inspired this new page. We learn what caused the heavy damage to a buggy we have a picture of, that RSW had a car much earlier than we realized and have discovered a picture that supports a story told by Boston art dealer Seth Vose.

Combining our effort with the memorializing and preserving many of Dr. Mark's original website pages and recollections... this page has been given a facelift. Addendums are separated from his words. What makes this page really special is his recollection of an incident when he was young and employed by RSW we believe may be the origin of their father/son like relationship.

While looking for something else, we came across a folder with pictures of this artwork better than what we had showing. Those pictures included close up images of the numerous features that makes this museum piece special.

The owner of this painting recently reached out to us with a new picture of this painting. We could not be more appreciative at how much support we receive from so many. Many thanks and enjoy the new image.

We have discovered a picture that supports a story told by Boston art dealer Seth Vose to the 1970 Deerfield Academy's American Studies Group. There was a question as to the veracity and likelihood of the story becasue it involved a two-horse drawn buckboard wagon. We now has visible evidence RSW DID own a two-horse drawn buckboard wagon.

We have added 6 links to videos found on YouTube relating to the Mt. Lowe Alpine Railway for your enjoyment. Most of the videos are taken from the original silent film footage shot by (Henry) Ford Productions in the 1920s. It takes you on the journey up the mountain starting with Echo Canyon and the incline rail all the way to the Alpine Tavern.

We are putting together a series of "Los Angeles Extras" pages starting with this page which tells the story of the breakthrough that led to answering the greatest obstacle to putting the story together - how Woodward and his two friends arrived in Los Angeles by 8:00 a.m. from near the peak of Mt. Wilson.

The second page in the "Los Angeles Extras" pages series examines whether Woodward and his two friends used an 1800s mule trail to pass the treacherous Eaton Saddle in the darkness of night or if a tunnel named Mueller Tunnel was available at the time. All sources claim the tunnel was created in 1942 but our evidence suggest otherwise. We also introduce the basic background as to the origins of the Sierra Madre trails and the 1850s gold rush.

One of the most prominent figures that crossed paths with Woodward on that fateful day in September 1906 is the current Chief of Police Walter Auble. Auble's story is equally tragic and we felt it is worth telling. To this day Chief Auble is the highest ranking police officer of the Los Angeles Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.

We recently discovered and old photograph of Winter Horizon hanging on the wall of the 1946 International Art Exhibition held annually in Springville, Utah. The exhibition continues to this day.

A recent discovery! We have known for some time RSW exhibited a painting at the 1919 Buffalo Academy of Art's Albright Museum but its name has been unknown until now. Our deep dive into newspapers.com has resulted in numerous new discoveries we will be slowly rolling out over the next few months. Though we have no image of the painting, we have two articles decribing its location.

In November and December of 1928, the North Adams Transcript reports on the Woodward exhibition of chalk drawings held at the home of Anna Koch. We have known of this event for some time, however, what we learn from these two brief articles is astounding! This piece is actually the inspiration for The Tutfs Living Room.

From two articles related to the 1928 Chalk Exhibition held at the home of Anna Koch in Greenfield, we learn that artist and Woodward friend Dorothy Day Tufts' husband Harold commissioned RSW to draw a similar piece to that of The Friendly Fireplace resulting in this much loved chalk drawing. We also learn there is also another commission.

In what will be the first of many... this unnamed chalk drawing is related to The Friendly Fireplace, The Tutfs Living Room and the 1928 Chalk Exhibition held at the home of Anna Koch in Greenfield. We now have a pretty long list of works of art made by RSW but with no name or picture we kept them to ourselves. We will now begin to make some space for these lost and forgotten pieces.

As a result of the discovery of the North Adams Transcript reports on the Woodward exhibition of chalk drawings held at the home of Anna Koch, we now have the names of several buyers who bought chalks from the exhibit. This piece being on of them. We also learn several previously unknown chalks whose pages will be coming soon.

After sitting idle for years on our projects list due to certain discrepancies, we have recently stumbled on the missing piece of the puzzle that has prohibited us from ever publishing the story of Woodward's 1906 Labor Day accident that left him paralyzed. It is quite a ride as you will see. Once it all fell into place and knew where to look... we ended up more than we bargained for! So much so that not all the material could fit on one page and so we are now working on an "EXTRAS" page. Keep checking back...

After the transcription of Woodward's 1932 personal diary we now have an account of RSW's first meeting with Frost at Amherst College's Jones Library. A majority of this webpage, now includes an Editorial Commentary that explores the relationship between the great men written by Website Curator Brian Charles Miller.

This is the third or fouth time this page has been revised or amended in just a couple of years. The reason is so silly, it is embarassing. However, after multiple discussions between Woodward authorities, Janet Gerry and Brian Miller, we believe there is now a consensus as to the nature of this mysterious card made prior to 1908.

There are a number of new things coming this month. Besides the complete story of RSW's accident in 1906, there are new pages being developed exploring the end of Still Life paintings by RSW and the origins of Woodward's Window Paintings... an examination of the naming style for his paintings... a deeper look at RSW's interest in Illuminations and we continue to grind away at the new Sketchbook Gallery!

New England Farm

Quiet Diginity 1

Quiet Diginity 2

The Road to Church

A Sea of Hills

Spring

Sugar House Shed

Tree on a Slope

Two Friends

Valley Peace

Yellow Farmhouse

Forgotten House in Ink

In a letter to friend Helen Ives Schermerhorn sometime between 1910 and '16 RSW offers Helen a number of ideas for her own 'book plate.' The letter is both touching and revealing, in that, Woodward shares his impression of Helen. He also includes his own thoughts on what his plate would ideally be. A bookplate is a popular trend of the time. It is nothing more than a vanity card/label to be attached to the inside cover of one's very own book collection.

This never before seen ink drawing appears to be of a similar house he made in an ink wash painting from his junior year of high school in 1903, Unnamed: Forgotten House. The drawing's date is unknown and was found with a series of prints in a cabinet of his Southwick Studio. There are, however, two possible links to his friend Helen... (1) is a five triangle motif only on items meant for Helen and (2) a wind swept tree similar to a dooble made for her.

We have a image of this much loved painting from above the Hoosac Tunnel area off the Mohawk Trail made the summer of 1932. In addition to adding the new image, we have made new topographic illustrations of the area to show the vantage point from where we believe he painted the piece.

We have made new topographic illustrations of the area to show the vantage point from where we believe he painted this painting in 1931. We have linked it together with The Mountain Shoulder showing a top and bottom perspective of the Hoosac Tunnel area.

We have also received from its owner an image a of previously unknown oil painting. It is unsigned and unnamed but closely resembles the chalk drawing Vermont Drama. The most significant difference is the sky. It is possible this painting is linked to others painted in the area of Whitingham, VT in 1932. We have made graphics illustrating the locations we believe he made each painting.

In light of the recent discovery of Unnamed: Drama of Vermont we have made graphics illustrating the locations we believe he made each painting painted in the area of Whitingham, VT in 1932. We cannot say for certain if this chalk was made before the oil or if either were made in 1932 but we can say it is most likely both were made around the same time period.

Given a number of new items concerning a five triangle motif Woodward used almost exclusively in his corespondence with his friend Helen... we have re-thought the origin of this homemade card and made an addendum revision to the page. Find out who we think the card was made for...

The tireless work on the new Sketchbook Gallery continues. We are getting close to finishing and still committed a slow roll out of the "never before seen" drawings and sketches. We continue with the last 5 "drawings" and continuing to the first 17 new sketches. If the difference is not obvious, let us qualify it for you. Drawings are near complete and detailed sketches that could, on their own, qualify as art. "Sketches" are simply what it means a generalized composition missing certain detail.

Drawings

Peltier Farm; Chalk

Rolling Pastures

Shaded Farm

Simple Hills

Strength of New England

Sketches

Back of the House

Below the Orchard

Big Chimney #2

Big Chimney #3

Blue Hills

The Book Corner

Sketches continued...

Bookcase and Table

Boston Window

Clouds Over Hills

Distant Hills

Dooryard Elm #5

Down a Hill Road

Edge of a Pasture

Farmhouse Road

Guarded House

Home Road

Modest Hill

Nestled Farm

Painted in the summer of 1932, this painting was never sold by RSW. It hung in his home throughout his life only to be sold upon the settling of his estate. Its name has always been unknown until now. There are 3 entries in his '32 diary in which he calls it, "Red Barns," with captital letters. It has been removed from the Unnamed Gallery. Visit and see the diary entries...

These two works of art were made in the summer of 1932. Both are from Whitingham, VT near Mount Haystack and along Sadawga Lake. The lake and a patch of cleared trees on the side of a hill appear in both but from very different vantage points. One from Kentfield Road, the other near the old common. We added a graphic to illustrate.

While Woodward was making as many as 15 trips to Whitingham, VT in the summer of 1932, he managed to squeeze in a day to head to Rowe, MA to paint what we believe is Mountain Shoulder near the Hoosac Tunnel. We suspect it was the late start to his day that changed his plans to paint closer to home instead of Vermont.

We have added a new image of a letter written by RSW to this painting's buyer along with its transcription. In the letter, RSW, gives telling insight to his perspective regarding the value of intimacy and close contact with a subject. It is a prevailing theme in his work for which critics often noted in their reviews.

We have added a new image of a letter written by RSW to this painting's buyer along with its transcription. In the letter, RSW is responding to what we believe is a question the owner has asked regarding why there are no notable peaks in the distant hills. RSW descibes the vantage point from his Heath studio as facing southeast towards the Buckland Hills, confirming our suspicions.

This hand-drawn illumination made during Woodward's commercial artist years (1911 - 1917) was discovered by Janet Gerry who has an uncanny ability to locate RSW's work while doing something unrelated. The verse is borrowed from Robert Louis Stevenson's book of poetry, Underwood, Chapter XI, "To Will. H. Low.

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

The only image we have of this painting is an old grainy photograph. However, that photograph was scanned for the website nearly 15 years ago and we made every effort to re-cpature the photo in a high resolution and better contrast and depth.

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

We now have a new image of this painting which was added 6 months ago but the sepia image we had has always had a glare in the lower portions of the print. We re-captured it in hopes of providing a clearer respresentation of the sepia. There is still a glare of sorts because there is a sheen on the image but the new scan is better.

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

We have a lovely color picture of this vibrant painting. Over the past couple of years we have been adding the sepia prints to the artwork pages and with that have now added this paintings sepia to its page.

As we work to build the new Sketchbook Gallery we have been releasing new, never before seen sketches featured in the gallery. Here are some more...

Peltier Farm, Chalk

Rolling Pastures

Shaded Farm

Simple Hills

Strength of New England

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

We have two images of this painting, (1) is its sepia which has always been used and the other (2) is from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. It is a simple, but crystal clear black and white photograph. We have decided the because of its clarity we would use the photo with credit given to the Boston MFA.

It was time to update a number of the sepia prints in the estate. Many of the images we had were scanned nearly 15 years ago so we set out to re-capture them in a higher, most crisp resolution. This painting is one of a number of new scans. Enjoy!

In transcribing Woodward's 1932 personal diary we have learned that he was incorrect about the buyer of this painting in his painting diary. This information is supported by another source and so we have updated the info regarding its buyer... The surprise is it was bought by RSW's bookplate client Francis Meredyth Whitehouse! Read more...

As we work to build the new Sketchbook Gallery we have been releasing new, never before seen sketches featured in the gallery. Here are some more...

Back of the House

Below the Orchard

Big Chimney #2

Big Chimney #3

Blue Hills

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!