RSW's Diary Comments

An excerpt from RSW's diary comments for The Potter Homestead.

In the Afternoon Sun, 1937, chalk drawing

"Painted 1937. One of the many paintings I made this season of 1937 through Macbeth for a Mr. Garvan who wished to present a collection of paintings to Yale University showing the growth of architecture (largely churches but also of fine dwellings) in America. I made many of this series but Mr. Garvan suddenly died before he could honor his contract with me, much to my loss. Since I could now sell them privately the above canvas was bought by the owner of the house itself, Mrs. Arthur D. Potter, of 486 Main Street, Greenfield, Mass. and hangs in her beautiful drawing room."

Editor's Note:

While the original painting of this subject was intended for the Garvan commission, the fact that the artist made this painting indicating he liked the result. He did not do this for any other Garvan painting. Yet still, Woodward did not make an entry of it in his painting diary. We are beginning to suspect that some of his omissions might be intentional for whatever reason he may have. Actually, it is unclear where Dr. Mark even got the name. We cannot find it in any record of exhibitions or newspaper clippings. It does not even appear in Dr. Mark's original PowerPoint slides!

In the Afternoon Sun, photograph, addressed
"To my friend Mrs. Taylor" and signed by the artist
himself in pencil in the lower right hand side.

However, we recently received an email from the owner of a photograph of the painting and written in his own hand is Woodward's title for the painting and his signature. It is for all intents and purposes the same as the original painting made for the Garvan commission. This confirms for us its existence. We learned from the photo's owner that the photograph is framed suggesting that it was probably given as a gift. Mrs. Taylor worked for WHAI radio in Greenfield, MA. The Potter House later became the station's studio and offices. Also working for WHAI is Woodward's cousin Florence who was to sole employee for its Shelburne Falls branch where she worn a num,ber of hats- the area's reporter, ad sales person, and office administrator.

There are 3 known paintings of the Potter homestead, 2 oils and 1 chalk drawing. One of the paintings was intended to be part of the Francis Garvin commission. Garvin, through the MacBeth Galleries, commissioned Woodward to paint historically significant New England architecture demonstrating its "growth." The series was to focus mostly on churches but include certain "fine dwellings." RSW only painted 3 churches in oil before Garvin's unexpected and sudden death (there were, we believe, a number of unfinished paintings - 1 oil and 2 chalks plus a sketch in pencil) and as far as we know the was the only home. Photographs of the Potter Homestead were found in RSW's personal items along with pictures of the Bennington Church, we believe to work from in his studio.

Side by side pictures of the Potter House found in Woodward's personal photographs