RSW's Diary Comments

"Painted in 1932. One of the earlier ones of the beech tree in the Heath Pasture bought by the graduating class of 1935 at Amherst Massachusetts State College and presented to the college where it hangs in the new library building."

Editor's Note:

"From a Heath Pasture", sepia print
Not to complicate the matter even more but there
appears to be one other painting of the same
scene titled, From High in Heath (a labeled sepia).

Woodward is incorrect on the year in his diary comment. This painting exhibited at the Grand Central Art Galleries in 1931 and that record is impeachable. However, it is not that simple when it comes to Woodward's painting diary. Because he did not start compiling a painting diary until the 1940s at the encouragement of Dr. Mark and his friend F. Earl Williams, it is wrought with inaccuracies, especially when it comes to dates. Another frequent issue is the name. There are numerous times when Woodward changes a name or a name changed because the buyer preferred something else. This might be one of those times because Dr. Mark found a sepia print titled "From a Heath Pasture" matching this scene. See below ⮟

Comments on the back of a sepia print titled,
"From a Heath Pasture":

"April 26, 1935. Sold from studio, one oil painting From A Heath Pasture... and, of course, the painting From a Heath Pasture is to be crossed off (the insurance list) permanently, since it is sold to Massachusetts State College."

⮝ Our comments continue with this fact, Woodward was on top of his business dealings and those are rarely ever inaccurate. Also, this appears to be dated the day the deal with the Massachusetts State College senior class was done and at that day and time, this painting's name was "From A Heath Pasture". Twenty days later, it appears in the newspaper as From a New England Pasture, thus the diary comment above... he forgot its original name.

Painting hangs in the Engineering Library
Below: the nameplate found on the frame

Presented by graduating class of 1935 to University of Massachusetts Amherst.

After a number of years tucked away in the UMass Library "Archival Office" where one could see the painting only by appointment. It has now been relocated to the Science & Engineering Library.

We wish to thank the library staff for informing us of the move and furnishing us with the new image above.

Amherst Agricultural College,
Massachusetts Collegian, May 16, 1935

To the left: is an article from the Massachusetts Collegian announcing the gift to the school by the class of 1935. The article references the persistent myth Woodward intended to become an engineer before his accident. We know this now to NOT be true. Woodward's father, a real estate developer, wanted his son to attend Stanford University in California for engineering but in Woodward's letters to friends, around the same time, he was plotting to find his way to the Boston Museum of Fine Art School in Boston. He was simply appeasing his father. Woodward didn't want to be anything other than an artist, however, it does make for a more interesting story- or should we say, legend.

⮜ The Massachusetts Collegian, May 16, 1935

"Next Thursday at Convocation the senior class will present to the college a canvas entitled From a New England Pasture, executed by Robert Strong Woodward, a painter of New England. Previous to this year no graduating class has presented a gift of this sort. Harlow Hermanson, representing the senior class, will present the painting."

★ A final footnote to the page: The painting Mary Lyon's Hill was also purchased by the Massachusetts State College in October of the same year, 1935. Two paintings into the school's collection within months of each other is an impressive feat.