This chalk drawing is related to a number of similar composite art pieces made by Woodward in the mid-1940s. All of which are derived in some way from Wind'll Blow Hill (early 1930s) and and Just After Haying Time (1933). Woodward made a number of "composite" paintings between 1938 and 1945.
"Painted in 1944. A brilliant autumn "composite" composed in the studio for a Vose client, which was never bought by said client; road and walls in foreground taken from Aaron Baggs Wind"ll Blow Hill, mountain, farm and view beyond (with orchard), taken from Just After Haying Time. From this same theme, but with a heavy group of trees to the left. I made another canvas (22 x 38) (also refused by the Vose client, but soon bought by Mr. and Mrs. Billings of Hatfield called Through October Hills which see) Sold in late November 1947, through Mr. Earl Perry to Newton Savings Bank, Newton 58, Mass., where with 2 other paintings it had been hanging since May, 1947."
"Painted about 1944 - 5. Several paintings similar to this I made in the studio the winter of 1944 - 5. The description under Through October Hills (which see) applies to this picture too, although the composition is somewhat different with the stone wall in Through October Hills, for instance, much more prominent. Sold Dec. '53 to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Abbott of Braintree, Mass."
This painting hung at the 1944 Mr. & Mrs. Roger Smith Exhibition. A private exhibition of remarkable painting arranged by F. Earl Williams. As far as we know this was the only where exhibition this painting was displayed. Go to the bottom of this page for more...
To the right: is a photograph of the chalk drawing The Road
Home, the oil A Winter Afternoon and this chalk Mountain Meadow together hanging
on the wall for a private exhibition in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Roger Smith of Gardner, MA, December, 1944.
The picture was taken by Woodward friend, educator and amateur photographer F. Earl Williams. Williams was once the
principal of Gardner High School and so we believe he had something to do with arranging this rare exhibition of Woodward's paintings in a private residence. In all, 12 paintings
and two chalk drawing were displayed. Williams only photographed 11 of them that we know. The three missing photographs are
New England Impressions*, Winter Farms, and From
the North Window*. The paintings photographed are as follows in pairs: Portrait of a Shadow
and From a Mountain Farm*, April Sun and
Frost on the Window, A Winter Song* and
The Big Chimney*, there is the chalk drawing The Road Home, the oil
A Winter Afternoon and other chalk Mountain Meadow together and then
Tranquility, and The Little Red Barn* as singles.
And what an exhibition! Worthy of any New York or Boston Gallery, it featured a number of Woodward's most exhibited editorial paintings going back as far as 1935. [noted by asterisk*]
Two of the paintings hanging at the exhibit, A Winter Song and New England Impression previously hung at the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco and
the 1939 New York World's Fair respectively.