RSW's Diary Comments

None.

A closer look at the young maple tree.

A closer look at the rolling hills.

This drawing is privately owned.

There are 3 known pieces of this scene (or very similar). It is not known if the chalks (2) came first, then the oil (1) or vice versa. The other 2 pieces are as follows:

Winter Pastures, Chalk #1

Unnamed #32

The following is a poem written by RSW:

WINTER

Gay Winter, with thy blue and snow-white grace,

Why will the poets ever pen thee drear,

Unkind and dull, thy keen eyes rough and blear,

Thy blythe smile but a withered, wrinkled face?

Why term thy glad and whistling tree-top race

A storm to dread, an enemy to fear?

Why never note thy jaunty boutonniere

Of scarlet berries sprigged on branches" lace?

Slow summer surfeits art with sickly green.

Discordant colors on her gown lie crowded,

While thou art simple in thy changing sheen

Of white, of green and violet, frost shrouded.

The loveliest season in the circled year!

O Winter, thou are charged with gallant cheer!

Robert Strong Woodward