RSW's Diary Comments

"Painted in old studio prior to 1930. Still life, exhibited quite generally about the country."

Comment on the back of a sepia print:

"Deep and rich color, rather dark. The silk (once given me by Mrs. Dresser) from Bulgaria, deep blue and purple, changeable silk spots, white in some lights, red in others, tin candlestick, pewter plate, deep brown jug holding red alder berries, apples, all a rich red-foreground dark brown, with color reflections. $450."

Syracuse Post Standard, May 31, 1931. Art Chat, by Anna W. Olmsted

".The still life Apples and Silk also is painted with rare skill, the silky folds harmonizing deliciously with the ruddy apples."

Syracuse Post Standard, May 1931

"A unique still life is Woodward's Apples and Silk, a curious harmony of rich blue background tapestry and shiny red fruit. The charm of this picture lies in the sheen of the polka-dotted fabric which the artist was so careful to reproduce in oil. The material was given the artist by Mrs. F. S. Wicks of 207 Brattle Road, and Woodward, in sending the picture for exhibition in Syracuse, graciously wrote that the silk is 'a very piece of stiff foreign textile.' Mrs. Wicks first observed Woodward's paintings several years ago at the home of a friend in Boston and has since admired many of his works. She has met the artist on several occasions in New England."

Studio Window, 1928

Mr. F.S. Wicks is listed in the New York State Senate's Railroad Commission reports as the CEO & President of Syracuse's Central City Railroad Company.

The pewter plate and candlestick survived the fire at the Hiram Woodward Place and remain in the Southwick studio of the artist.

This Still Life painting is one of 7 others all painted between 1927 and 1932. They are the only Still Lifes RSW painted outside of the Chinese Lily which was painted in 1938.

The silk of this painting is actually the curtains of Woodward's Hiram studio which can be seen to the right in the painting Studio Window.

We imagine also that the shelf you see the various items arranged is also the same shelf.