"Painted in 1933. Purinton Farm (now Leon Goodnow's) painted from back of old Strohecker House, (now Mr. Wise.) Largely exhibited as one of my outstanding canvases. Awarded 2nd Landscape Prize, at Albany Inst. of History and Fine Arts, 1937. Finally bought by Bartlett Arkell (owner of Beechnut Products) 15 West 10th Street New York City, for the Canajoharie N.Y. Museum, but I believe hung instead in his N. Y. business office."
It is clear this is one of Woodward's outstanding paintings and yet like When Drifts Melt Fast seems to get overlooked. Unlike When Drifts Melt Fast, which Woodward kept for himself because he could
not find the right home. This painting landed in the Arkell Museum in Cana-joharie
NY. We like that Arkell, who became a friend as well as a supporter, kept it for himself. Hanging it in his office in New York City is as big a deal.
Imagine who got to see it?
The Albany Institute of History and Art (AIHA) is one of the oldest museums in the country. It was
establish in 1791, and has grown and evolved through a number of iterations and mergers with other institutions and organizations to what it is
today. This exhibition, the second of its kind was part of a national program to support artist who qualified for the The WPA Federal Art Project for
which we have newspaper clippings that Woodward had been awarded such a project, however, we have no idea what or if he actually did the work.
The most well known outcome of the Federal Art Project was the murals that decorated many local post offices, courthouses, and state buildings.
"...Robert Strong Woodward again shows the great understanding he has of the structure, one might almost call it the anatomy, of a landscape in his June Corn."
" .....Robert Strong Woodward deals with a difficult problem in his rows of June Corn, and produces an attractive, sunny composition."
The clipping from the Albany Times Union (to the left) announces only the award winners of the 1937
show. It is npt a review. Nonetheless, we can't help but notice Woodward is the only non-local participant listed. All of the others are from the Hudson
Valley area. A quick visit to the AIHA website makes pretty clear
the museum is regional and promotes the local area. Was an exception made for Woodward? Did he qualify to show at the AIHA because of his years
in Schenectady, NY (1900-1903) , where he graduated from the Union Classical Institute? Did Arkell or even the Director of the Syracuse Museum of
Fine Art, Anna Olmsted give their endorsement? Was it perhaps, Woodward association with Pittsfield or the Southern Vermont Artist Assoc. that brought
him to Albany? Let's not also forget that after Woodward's Redgate fire,
the artist worked his way back to respectability by doing small shows in Utica and Troy (1929). We suppose any of or all of those reasons contributed.
First prize went to well known New York artist Henry
Billings. Billings is accomplished. He is known for several things as a muralist, sculptor, and teacher. He painted several post office murals, as well as
a mural of a panther in the Radio City Music Hall in NYC that still exist to this day.