Quick Reference

Time Period:
Painted 1919

Location:
Unknown

Medium:
Oil on Canvas

Type:
Landscape

Category:
Trees

Size:
25 x 30


Purchased:
Unknown

Provenance:
N/A

Noteworthy:

This is one of RSW's earliest pieces. The signature for this painting is located at the top left of the canvas.... and does not have the traditional red " S" as the first letter in Strong. This painting was one of 7 paintings to exhibit at RSW's alma mater Bradley Polytechnic Institute's 7th Annual Art Exhibition in 1919.

Related Links

Featured Artwork: Out of The Mist

RSW's Diary Comments

There are no diary comments realted to this painting as are many of RSW's earliest paintings.


The signature for this painting is located at the top left of the canvas. It was dated
1919 and does not have the traditional red "S" as the first letter in Strong.

Additional Notes

This painting was one of 7 paintings to exhibit at RSW's alma mater Bradley Polytechnic Institute's 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 prepatory 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 would leave him paralysed from the chest down for the remainder of his life.

It would also be his friends from Bradley who would be with him through thick and thin. They would also be instrumental in helping him raise the money to board a train to Boston to attend the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts.


The Peoria Star, Sunday, April 27, 1919
Read the full article here

The Peoria Star, April 27, 1919:

"...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."


RSW re-typed this critique from the Peoria Illinois Journal Transcript from April 27, 1919
Peoria Journal Transcript
April 20, 1919

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 concering 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. The article is a glowing feature specifically on Woodward. It includes recollections of his time at Bradley and leaves us wondering if Chas. was a classmate and friend.


This painting is privately owned.


Links to the other paintings mentioned in the review:

Snow Pattern

Along the Hill Road

In the Sugar Bush

There are 3 additional paintings we do not have names for and are not mentioned in any of the clipping we have available to us.