tts
Shelburne Falls, Mass
April 7th 1922
"Redgate"
G.W.V. Smith
Springfield Art Museum tts
Springfield, Mass

My Dear Mr. Smith,
Your letter of April 6 is just at hand. I am very keenly sorry to have you feel you cannot pay the $600.00 for my canvas, 'Under the Winter Moon'- for I cannot feel it would be best to sell it for any less. The $750.00 I had told Mr. Miller I would consider (since it went to you) seem to me very low indeed, and then in my need, when I finally put it at $600.00, I surely should not receive less. I am of course deeply disappointed, for I had hoped my most loved canvas should rest in such a beautiful place.

I confess that present day paintings are held, in general at too high a price (however, diresuppose the very great costs of living). At the Academy and other exhibitions the average price of a 40 x 50 is $2000.00- and such people as my friends Mr. Gardner Symons, and Chauncey Ryder, receive 4 and 5 thousand for that size- and receive ready sales. My public price has been less than a fourth of that amount, and the special price of $600.00 I made to you is less than an eighth. So despite what seems to you large, is abruptly low, in relation to present day prices.

I worked nearly two active months on that canvas- seven and on [a] half weeks I was painting it. My bare expenses for mere daily living amount to from $350.00 to $400.00 a month- so to let the painting in question go for $400.00, would not be selling it at day labor prices, i.e. at prices to pay for its actual expense. The great honor of having it hung in your beautiful collection is worth much sacrifice indeed. But unfortunately my horse will not eat honor, nor my nurse take it for salary, nor the hospital supply house for a wheelchair- (which I now need new) nor the local farmer for wood to fill my gaunt shed! So I could not continue to live these days, in order to paint more pictures, at the rate of $400.00 for that special painting. My statement of $600.00 was the lowest at closing figures which would let me live the seven and a half weeks it took to paint it. It is, of course crude to bring art down to a day labor basis, but to prove to you that I set a low price on the picture, and that your price would not be practical, I have made comparisons.

Thank you for your letter but regret very very deeply you are not to keep the canvas. I cannot deny that I feel quite crushed at the way the dealings have turned out. I have never yet painted anything so masterly as this picture, and my price is very low.
Earnestly,
Robert Strong Woodward