⮞ There are no diary comments for this painting as it is with many of the artist's earliest paintings.
This painting was one of 7 paintings to exhibit at RSW's Alma mater Bradley Polytechnic Institute's
(in 1919 Bradley College and today Bradley University) 7th Annual Art Exhibition in 1919. Though he did not attend the
event, it would be a triumphant return to Peoria in spirit. Bradley was very important to Woodward, he earned his high
diploma (1904) from the school and remain there for another two years as a teaching assistant in Literature while taking
college preparatory classes. He would leave Peoria in May of 1906 to join his parents in Los Angeles, CA.
Three
months later, on Labor Day morning he and his friends (many his Bradley friends such as, Victor West, Joseph Cowell and
Fred Bourland) would return from a weekend of camping. Getting cleaned up to go to breakfast with his parents, Woodward
while removing a sweater over his holstered revolver accidentally caused the gun to discharge. The accident leaving him
paralysed from the chest down for the remainder of his life.
⮞ Read the story of RSW's Accident
⮞ Visit the Bradley Exhibit page
⮞ Read this article on RSW by a
former classmate.
"...of these probably the strongest is Out of the Mist, two small beech trees standing alone
with their brilliant yellow winter leaves against a misty forest in which the evergreens are dominant. The friendliness
and cheer of the beeches and the mystery of the forest gives a human quality to the picture which is unusual for one
of its class, and the coloring and technique are fine."
⮞ All of the articles linked to this exhibit and
the great "interest" in Woodward's appearance. We stressed the word interest because every article uses similar phrasing
suggesting that the information is coming from what is called a "press kit," an information packet given to the local
press.
The Peoria Star has an advantage over the competitors because RSW has a classmate on the staff and so
there are details not found in other papers. Two articles on Woodward appeared in the Peoria Star on the same day. This
one is about the event, the other focused on the artist.
Still, this article informs us that RSW did not start painting seriously, "only about twenty months ago,"
which is incorrect. This must be a misunderstanding between the reviewer and the friend Chas Lambert. The artist sold his
first painting about twenty months prior. We know from Chas, RSW started "painting" professionally in April of 1917, two
years ago, almost to the day.
Woodward's dear friend, Joseph Cowell is mentioned
in the article! He sent four water colors to the Bradley show made when he was in Europe servicing in the military in
World War I. The two would remain life long friends. The picture to the left is of Cowell when he was teaching at the
Massachusetts School of Art (today known as MassArt) in 1924.
The reviewer makes no mention at all about Woodward's accident or paralysis which was probably saved
for Chas' piece. There is a mention of a "one-man-show" by the artist in Boston. We could not find any record of one. We
believe, again, the reviewer mistook his colleague's information that the artist "exhibited at the Boston Art Club." That
was not a one-man-show, but rather, a special exhibit for New
England Artist. (Link will open a page for the exhibit in a new tab)
⮞ To the left: A clipping from the Peoria Journal Transcript April 20, 1919 introducing the upcoming exhibition. This article is wonderful for its wealth of information! While it introduces the show, it spends a majority of its space on Woodward, claiming, "The exhibition has been greatly enriched this year by the collection of seven canvases contributed by Robert Strong Woodward..." The writer goes on to provide us with valuable tidbits like, "... he sold his first painting last July. Exhibited at the Boston Art Club in October... He then sent a canvas to the Winter Academy Exhibit..." All previously unknown to us prior to the discovery of this article.
⮟ For another terrific article concerning Woodward's contribution to this exhibition, please see also, Echos of the Past by Chas T. Lambert, published in the Peoria Star on the closing day of the show, April 27, 1919. The article is far too large to include on this page. (Click anywhere on the image below for the full article) It includes recollections of Woodward's time at Bradley, detailed information regarding the artist first day he went out in his sleigh to paint, and other person things, including the statement, "careless with a revolver," indicating Lambert talked to and knew Woodward personally, perhaps as a classmate.