Art Thomas Waterman Wood

a bit of war history- recruit, thomas waterman wood, metropolitan museum of art

it may reputation artist rest upon figure pictures, although numerous portrait paintings involved of effort of life , characterized simple , strong composition, great technical execution , masterful use of colors. may follow yet achieve memorable honors interpretations has made of great paintings, stand point of minds , hearts won considerations of local history highest interest assigned works in wood included characters native place. examples of work in direction following may mentioned: yankee pedlar had model tin peddler known snapping tucker , resident of calais, vermont. when work sold large sum, tucker promptly claimed share upon grounds of intrinsic worth , natural capacity poser. village post office taken interior of old ainsworth store in williamstown, vermont, figures taken montpelier people. wood s uncle zenas postmaster , group around store, boyden, whittier , bullock, old-time residents. clerk horace scribner, long esteemed generous country musician , organist of christ church. painting bought mr. charles stewart smith, ex-president of new york chamber of commerce. scene quack doctor located in front of old arch once spanned head of state street leading east state. old brick building, home of montpelier book bindery, still stands. picture bought mr. george i. seneg $2,000 , after death included in sale of entire collection.

another successful painting country doctor. artist found proper model work aid of secretary of state, dr. george nichols, in person of actual country doctor, representing town of jamaica in legislature. doctor bore upon face impress of beneficent labors more 40 years in country town. wood himself told writer, in speaking of painting, many person had said him, doctor exact image of father, country doctor. saying regarded not proof had achieved concrete likeness evidence of having handed down particular class idea of old-fashioned country physician, different in type city practitioner country lawyer of former days brother in city.

in 1891, wood exhibited @ academy picture entitled cogitation, 1 of montpelier friends, mr. george ripley, posed. composition extremely simple, farmer in barn, leaning upon pitchfork, countenance thoughtful. picture bought mr. harper , published full-page engraving in harper s weekly during greeley campaign on title greeley fool or knave? . humorous side of incident consists in fact mr. ripley model ardent supporter of mr. greeley in campaign, while artist himself, far know, never dabbled in politics.

these few examples sufficiently illustrate influence place of birth had upon wood. not vermonter great painter of vermont ideas, conditions , character. nor did foreign travel nor city residence nor influence of professional connections ever tend diminish deep , abiding interest in home. subjects of works, selection of characters, yearly pilgrimage vermont, demonstrate filial loyalty , gave sentiment of heart final expression in establishment, gift montpelier, of gallery of art. but, apart this, homes, offices , institutions of montpelier , without filled affectionate , great evidences of work. vermont historical society possesses several excellent examples of portraiture, of great historic value , preserved in cedar creek reception room @ vermont state house: samuel prentiss (1881), united states senator; mrs. samuel prentiss (1895) , dr. edward lamb (1895), gifts society family of mr. prentiss. in 1896, society unveiled life-size portrait of distinguished publicist, hon. e. p. walton, gift of wife , sister. wood s personal donations include portraits of rev. william a. lord, d.d. (1874), minister of bethany congregational church of city, daniel pierce thompson (1880), novelist , author of green mountain boys , , justin s. morrill, united states senator, father of tariff legislation, promoter of agricultural colleges , chief builder of library of congress.

one of noblest paintings existing in state artist s beautiful translation of bartolomé esteban murillo s la madonna del rosario . work, submitting original infinite tenderness , feeling, painted in 1896 in dulwich gallery , consecrated bishop de goesbriand service of saint augustine s church on july 26, 1897. essential force of sacred painting actual power impress beholder profound sense of sacredness of motherhood , worth , lasting values of purity , religious faith. in accepting donation wood reverend bishop said: have made great murillo of seventeenth century our contemporary, expression not true of 1 defines special value of great copies of great paintings.

in copies, made great care , due appreciation of masters, wood exhibits same broad range found in other work. between murillo s madonna of rosary , charles robert leslie s uncle toby , widow wadman there greatest possible gulf. first proves deep conviction of artist in sacred of human thoughts , latter great sense humor found expression in etchings, water colors , of genre paintings. in wood collection @ montpelier there 20 originals, 40 copies, 7 water colors , 11 etchings, in 78, splendid , imposing example of thought, work , character of single painter.