RSW's Diary Comments

The Hiram Woodward Home & Studio (1923- 1934)

"Painting made in about 1932 or 3. Made in the old studio before the fire, a still life, of loved old antiques. Hung for several years in the parlor of the Weldon Hotel over the piano. Very rich in color, my finest still-life. Shawl red, cream, gray and black; purple and red fuchsia in brass bucket, bottle, jade green; Greek tanagra tan."

Comments on back of sepia print:

"Very rich in color - my finest still life. Shaw - red, cream, gray and black; purple and red fuscia - in brass bucket; bottle, jade green; Greek tanagratan, old plate (My Grandmother's too) - red and green. As fine a piece of painting as I have done. _ _ _ _ $750.00"

Springfield Sunday Union and Republican,
Springfield, Mass., Feb. 14, 1932

Springfield Sunday Union and Republican, Springfield, Mass., Feb. 14, 1932

My Grandmother's Lamp, a large still-life of antique bottles, lamp, plate, brass kettle etc., a fuchsia plant in bloom, all set out on an old cherry table draped with an old red plaid shawl."

Boston Herald, Aug. 13, 1933

"Variety, too, is present, and we see a change from pure landscape in the decorative still-life of My Grandmother's Lamp, with its clear piece of old Sandwich glass, its three pomegranates and china plate, all set off by the folds of a handsome black, white and red plaid shawl."

Below are three images we captured from RSW's 1932 diary during the days he painted My Grandmother's Lamp, as well as the day he had it shipped to New York for the upcoming annual, National Academy of Design show.

"[Sun.] Snow, sleet, rain - Started still life in studio in paint of old lamp, frucia, red plaid shawl, plate, bottle etc. Happy over my palette again. Henry brought mother + father up at 5:30 for supper here - then home at 9."

"[Tues.] Hovering around freezing, sunny and windy. Worked all day long in the studio on still life of the lamp.
It is going to be the most beautiful painting of the kind, whenever done -"

"Very cold with wind, but clear. Packed two pictures for N.A.D. taking all morning. "Out of N.E. Soil" and
"Grandmother's Lamp". Greenfield in afternoon with Mother and Julia. Mother to Moore's while Fabian
and I bought Julia a dress! Saw Mrs. Koch and Mrs. Tullis on business. Letters all evening.