RSW's Diary Comments

None.

Editor's Note:

We know believe we know the location of where this painting was made. It comes from the diary comments for Laurel and Wild Cherry (1919), 36' x 42":

"I painted a 27 x 30 up on Crittenden Road beyond Abbott place, beautifully successful. It burnt in Redgate fire..."

Woodward's Signature dated 1919

This signature by RSW is rare, in that... 1) he was not
yet using his trademark red "S" and 2) we have only a
couple other examples of him adding a year to his
signature... Winter Mist, 1922 and Winter Farms, 1918

Springfield Union, Feb. 1, 1921, Miller's Art Exhibit

"Robert Strong Woodward's mountain laurel picture of upland sunshine and blossom, overlooking a delectable valley, with glimpses of red roof, blue water and purple distance as factors of a charming scene, shows a facile brush that is not only close but very true to nature in one of his most colorful moods."

Springfield Union, Feb. 1921

"The picture he is now showing here is a hillside in the Shelburne hills, in full bloom with laurels. The treatment is free and liberal, a vivid impression, and the atmosphere is fresh and inspiring. Such rare newcomers should receive a hearty welcome."

A close up look and the fence and
surrounding mountain laurel

One of Woodward's earliest paintings and one of the few that was not... an atmospheric, dark moonlit wooded scene from behind his Redgate studio. Also note, his brush style was still in the impasto technique.

This piece was sold by Newman Galleries in 2006 and currently resides in Pennsylvania. Then in 2017 was sold by Briggs auction just outside Philadelphia and has now returned home to Massachusetts.