Diary Comments:
Painted in summer 1933. Most picturesque old New England house
near Vermont line between Halifax and Colrain (above Elm Grove), A much
traveled and lauded canvas, invited out to the Art Institute in Chicago,
etc. One of my outstanding paintings I am certain. In the winter of
1940-1 Robert Frost, the poet, moved to Cambridge and wrote he wished to
exchange the canvas he had purchased in 1932 Winter Dignity (which see)
because of reasons of sentiment etc. due to the death of his wife and son,
so this Passing New England along with many others, I sent down to the Vose Galleries for Mr. Frost to see.
Among them he chose this Passing New
England. So it is now owned by our most noted poet, Robert Frost.
Comments on the back of a sepia print:
My most powerful record of passing New England. A popular
picture among museums and galleries, was invited to the Rhode Island School
of Design, the recent annual at Pennsylvania Academy, Philadelphia, and has
just been invited by Mr. Harshe to annual exhibition in October at the Art
Institute of Chicago. This canvas is now owned by Robert Frost.
"This painting is not for sale. It is the one among many of my
canvases which was chosen and is owned by our poet,
Robert Frost. I
thought it might interest you to see what our great poet, a friend of mine,
chose."
Notes:
This painting came up for
auction at Skinner, Inc. on 5/12/89. Low estimate was $2,500,
high estimate was $3,500. Sold for $2,762.
Comments in a notebook by RSW:
"June 19th, 1936: Packed in a crate
and sent to Macbeth Galleries, 11 East Street, New York, (through W.
S.
Budworth the packers at 424 East 52nd Street: Passing New England
30 x 36."