Quick Reference

Time Period:
Unknown

Location:
Hog Hollow Rd.
Buckland, MA

Medium:
Oil on Canvas

Type:
Landscape

Gallery:
Trees

Size:
Unknown

Exhibited:
NA

Purchased:
Unknown

Provenance:
NA

Noteworthy:

The location of this painting is the Rose farm, on Hog Hollow Road. The cellar hole is still visible from the (private) driveway.

Related Links


Featured Artwork: Unnamed: Stonewalls Meet

RSW's Diary Comments

None.



Additional Notes

Clipping from the church newsletter
Clipping from the church newsletter

There are two descriptions as to how the church acquired this painting. It was originally told to us that it was donated to the church during the settling of the artist's estate. However, another source maintains that the painting had previously been given to another church in town which was dissolved and the members transferred to Trinity Church and the painting went with them. The painting is neither signed nor titled.

Recently, the painting needed restoration and following the work done the report (left) was published in the church newsletter. The back of the painting has never been examined by us.

The painting is hanging at the Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls, MA.


Of late, more of the backstory to this piece has come to light. The painting itself is of a birch tree that has rooted and grown out the cellar hole of a structure lost to fire many years prior. This is common for birch trees to sprout out of burnt forest and field. Symbolically, it is represents the Phoenix rising from the ashes, which Woodward fancied. It is actually a common theme among his ouvre, the prevailing power of life to renew making use of the old. The metaphor is important to Woodward. The story of this painting is that it was given to an episcopal church as a message of hope after destroyed by fire in 1928, Shelburne Falls. It is believed to be the congregation that later joined the Trinity Church.