Featured Artwork: Contentment

RSW's Diary Comments

The Hyman Dining Room

“Painted 1933. The side porch of Mr. Howes of Swift River, Mass. When at one of the Corcoran Biennial Exhibitions, Cecelia Beaux made the assertion that she considered it the handsomest painting in the show---and that she would buy it herself if financial times were not so hard. Exhibited very largely about the country. Sold, March, 1942, by Harold Grieve of Hollywood for me, to a high executive of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures of Culver City, California, Mr. Bernard H. Hyman.”

Country porch with dog.

Art Chat, by Anna W. Olmsted, Dir. of Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts

"...Contentment (expressed by a white house superbly painted, an old dog asleep in its place in the sun)....."

Comments in a notebook by RSW:

"April 26, 1935: During April, the American Federation of Arts, invited my oil painting Contentment which hangs at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington D. C. on exhibition until May 5th ( and of course completely insured while there)-- to be included in a group to tour the country for an indefinite length of time--running into 1936. This painting and frame are completely insured while in the hands of the American Federation of Arts. So this painting Contentment can be crossed off my insurance list until you hear from me further that it is back in my hands."

"January 11, 1932: motored to Swift River to see Miss Albro;---made drawing of ell of Howes Farm, ready for painting."