The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-14

In the WArcHMAN of March u, 1895, will
be found an account 1f the meeting, held
by the trustees and stockholders of the
Montpelier Public Library Association, at
which IL was voted to accept certain proposi.
tons made to them by the Young Mems
Christian Association Of Montpelier and Mr..
Thomas w. Wood, president of the Ma
tional Academy OF Design, in New York.
On the part of the former there was made
an offer to the Library Association of the
use OF rooms on the second floor Of the
| Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company's
building, as a home for your books and
other property, rent, heat, lights and jani-
tor services free, for so long time as we
may occupy that building and, thereafter,
wherever we may be located for so long
time as you may choose to occupy, the man.
agement remaining under your control, pre-
cisely as in the past, and under the sole di-
rection Of your trustees" On the part Of
Mr.. Wood, the following proposition was
made: " II the stock holders of the Mont
pelier Public Library will place the books
composing their library in the building OF
the Young Mems Christian Association, it
will give me pleasure, II 1 retain life and
health, to establish in the same building, as
part OF the library, an attractive collection
OF oil paintings, water colors and etchings,
for the benefit OF students who may wish to
copy these works of art, as well as for the
qualification and education OF the public"
Since the date Of that meeting at which
1t was voted to accept these proposals, Mr..
Wood has been devoting himself to the
final preparation Of his collection, and since
his arrival in Montpelier, several weeks
ago, has been personally supervising the
fitting up Of the gallery for the reception OF
his collection Of paintings, water-colors and
| etchings. special wall has been built in
on each side OF the gallery and this was
covered with felting of rich quality and
Of deep color, suitable as background
for the pictures. The light, by day, will
in frnp ha al ha haa m IA
had for this purpose, and, by night, from in
candescent lam os, ranged overhead in the
form Of a rectangle and so shaded as to
throw the rays directly upon the paintings,
reflected light. The effect of this arrange
ment, when tried, has been found to
be very satisfactory. Around the gallery,
about yard from the wall, has been placed
a protecting railing and upon the floor
large rug, harmonizing in color with the
other surroundings.
THOMAS W. WOOD.
Mr.. Wood, the donor of the collection,
was born in Montpelier, November ~ 1923.
His early surroundings afforded no oppor-
tunity for the study of art; but, so soon as
means would permit, he went to Boston
and studied in the studio of Chester Hard
ing. After painting portraits in Canada,
Washington and Baltimore, he went to
Europe, in 1858, for the purpose of studying
in the galleries of London, Paris, Flor
6nC6 anu upon his ne
painted portraits for time in Nashville
and Louisville, and, in 1869, set up his
easel, as figure painter, in the city OF New
York. In 1858 he contributed to the Ma
tional Academy of Design. In 1869 he was
elected an associate OF that body, and in
1871, an academician During this period
he was also closely identified with the
American Water Color Society, frequently
contributing to its exhibits and acting as its
president from 1878 to 1887. In 1879 he was
elected vice president of the National Acad-
emy of Design, holding that office until 1891,
in which year he was elected president and
so continues. The collection, now pre-
sented by him, represents his work in three
directions-oil painting, water-color and
etching. AS such composite representa-
ton of the best work Of Vermont's greatest
painter, it will possess peculiar value not
only for its influence on 1.-THE pleasure and
culture of those who study it, but also for
its historical and local significance to the
people of this city and this state.
THE THOMAS W. WOOD COLLECTION
Contrary to expectation, it was found that
the room set aside for the gallery would not
contain it, Even after the east side had
been wholly blocked up and every foot of
wall space in the northeast room had been
covered, it was found necessary to extend
the space. Thus the collection has been
divided and distributed through three rooms
on the east side--the first containing the
main portion of the collection, the oil
paintings, the second the etchings, and the
, third the water-colors. There are forty
two items designated in the deed of gift
, each representing separate work. The
subjects or titles of these pictures have been
printed in an illustrated and annotated
catalogue of the collection, which may be
secured of the librarian in charge. There
are twenty -four oil paintings, eleven etch-
ings and seven water colors. The two latter
. exhibits are original works OF the donor,
in conception and execution; but of the OIL
|
copies from the works Of famous men.
Among the great painters, represented by
translation, are Gerard Dow, Sir Thomas
Lawrence, Murillo, Rembrandt, Rubens,
Turner and Sir Joshua Reynolds. Rem
brandt is represented by eight copies
, painted by the artist during visits to the
German galleries of Dresden and Cassel,
the Dulwich and National galleries near
and in London, and the gallery of The
Hague. These copies are so distributed for
, subjects and treatment as to make this por-
ton of the collection probably the most in
teresting and valuable of its kind in the
! United States. But, was natural great
interest was also expressed, during the
opening, in those works of Mr.. Wood which
set forth his own conception of certain
phases OF common life in genre pictures.
Among those are " The Drunkard's Wife -
NO. a; "The Faithful Nurse (No. 13);
"A Stitch in Time" mo. 15); White
Rats" mo. 16); and The Return of the
Flag" (No' ID begun in 1869 and finished
| III 1911
There are many evidences of Mr.. Woods
art of portraiture in this vicinity. The
most recent paintings Of this nature, placed
in Montpelier, are the portraits OF Senator
Justin s. Morrill,, donated by him last Octo-
Der to the Vermont Historical Society, and
that of Samuel Prentiss, the gift of the lat
ter's children to the United States District
Court, opened few weeks ago. To these
are now added, as part of the present col.
lection, portraits of the poet Stoddard, of
the painter Beard of the philanthropist
Carnegie, the recent founder of a library
and art gallery in Pittsburg, Pa, and of
himself painted in 1894 and exhibited in
} the autumn of that year by the National
Academy of Design, Among the locally in
teresting works is a "View of Main Street,
Montpelier" from the studio at Athen-
wood. The pictures are covered with plate
glass which both protects them and en-
hsnces the effect OF color very much They
are also richly and suitably framed, this
part of the expense of preparation having
been borne in common with the donor