BIOGRAPHY

In every season of the year New England has an atmosphere, a flavor of its own. Many of attempted to capture this feeling of the hills, the valleys, the weathered buildings, and the Meadows, and some have succeeded. Robert Frost, through his poetry, has made New England come to life. Robert Strong Woodward in his painting, has depicted for many the very essence of the land which they love.

Robert Strong Woodward was born in North Hampton, Massachusetts, on May 11, 1885, a descendant through his mother of Caleb strong, a former governor of that state. His father was a realtor who is business kept the family often on the move. Although he lives off and on in New England, the boy never develop strong roots in a single community with one exception. His boyhood summers were spent at his grandfather's farm in Buckland, Massachusetts. When he was growing up he attended approximately 18 different grammar schools located in many parts of the country. As a young boy he often painted for hours, but he never considered this anything but a hobby. When he was ready for college his family was living in California, and he decided to apply and was admitted in 1903 to study engineering at Bradley, and after completing his courses returned to California to continue his studies at Leland Stanford. At twenty-one a revolver accident resulted in years of hospitalization, complete paralysis of the lower limbs and a life time necessity for a small retinue of nurses and attendance.

He returned East in 1912 because he felt that he had roots in Massachusetts and because of the many happy summers he

spent in the Buckland area. Painting, once his favorite hobby, now became his choice as a career, and he spent part of one year at the school of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where he received his only formal art training. Then at his uncle's home he began to work as a commercial artist. Much of his work was in illumination and lettering. He received many commissions became very successful but his expenses were great and there were difficult times. Because of his injury he had hired a local young man, Fabian Stone, to carry him and to chauffeur for him. It was also necessary to have a nurse with him at all times. Realizing that time was passing and that he was not really supporting his own needs, he gradually gave up his illumination work and began to paint the New England scenes he loved. Commenting at that time on his choice of subject matter in comparison with California, Woodward said: "I liked California and found...

[IMAGE]: Woodward, his parents and 4 other unknown people pose for a picture.

[IMAGE CAPTION]: a family gathering in Lima, Ohio, Woodward sitting on the ground in center. Mother and father to his right.