"Painted Jan. 1944. My first canvas of this size, made from The Big Chimney canvas with road, barn, mountains etc. added. Made because Mr. and Mrs. ---------------- liked the big chimney but wanted a long flat panel for their fireplace wall. Was working on 2 of this size, when my February illness collapsed me. Took it to their home to try on April 20th and they bought it.
This old house owned by Mr. Loomer, was built at 1795 and still exists on Village Hill Road in Williamsburg, Mass. It was a favorite subject of
Woodward's being that he painted it or sketched it numerous times. There are two previous oil paintings
At Lilac Time, 1934, and The Big Chimney, 1938,. Both were well
received and widely exhbited paintings during Woodward's study of Depression-era rural New England life.
There are also 3 sketches
of the same house in our Sketchbook Gallery respectively titled,
Big Chimney 1, Big Chimney 2, and Big Chimney 3
Below are copies of two letters RSW sent regarding this 20" x 40" artwork. Because Woodward's handwritting can be difficult to read, we have transcribed the letters for you with minimal annotation with this one exception: There are places in his letters Woodward left exceptionally large gaps before the start of the next sentence. We took this to be a space-saving feature to indicate the start of a new paragraph make use of the whole page.
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Jan. 25th, 1944
My Dear Mr. xxxxxxxxxxxxx - ever since you and your family were here at the studio just after Christmas -
an evening I really much enjoyed, I have been thinking a grwat deal of you, and of your problem of getting just the right over mantle picture for your
rather low ablong space. I have had the same problem to meet a number of times and in the past, as I believe I told you, I have twice made such a flat
oblong panel. Both of them were rather promptly bold. Frequently having a call for such a shape, soon after you were here, I sketched this new canvas
of that proportion. One of them is practically finished. The other one will be in a few days.
Of course you may have decided
something about filling your space by now - but if not, it would please me to have you want a week of ten days longer before you and your wife come
to any decision, for I would very much like to have you see these paintings I have just been making. I would like to show them to you anyway, whether
you thought best to own one of them or not - for it gave me much satisfaction to learn that you both cared for the rural type of New England life, which
I especially like to paint. In some way, I will manage to come into your...
living room (even if I have to bring my small foldup wheelchair which is narrow) and will bring this painting down - so you can see
them over your mantle. There would be absolutely no obligation on your part in the matter. You might not personally care for them - the color might not
work but to pay the price, or there might be other reason personal to you. Why you might think best not to own one. I am not at all trying to force the
matter. It would be to my advantage to have two paintings in the studio - of this long panel proportion any way. But surely I would like the pleasure of
showing them to you, when they are finished - if you and your wife would like to have me.
I will let you know when they are fully
completed and ready to leave the studio. Of course I would at anytime be pleased to have you come to the studio - but I imagine it would please you to
have them brought to your room itself - to see the effect of a proper size painting over your mantel - whether you finally kept one of mine, or not.
Earnestly,
Robert Strong Woodward
Feb. 16th, 1944
Dear Mr. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx following my letter to you three weeks ago, you may have thought it strange that
you have heard nothing more from me - in the fact of the statements I wrote you about the new paintings I am making. It is because I have been very ill in
bed for the part of two weeks, having gotten back to the studio rather weakly, only yesterday. The one 20 x 40, which I think is the one you and your family
will care for the more is finished and I am greatly pleased with it - but I was working on the second one, two weeks ago, when I collapsed at my easel with
gastro hemorrhages and nearly passed over the Border. It is a few days yet before the doctor thinks I had better begin painting. Two or three days will finish
this second canvas - so I hope some time next week I'll be able to let you see them over your mantle - for the pleasure of it. Even if you do not think best to
?????? me. I can call you up to make our arrangements by telephone later.
This note need not necessarily be answered - I just
thought I had better report my absence!
Robert Strong Woodward