The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-04-16
THOMAS WATERMAN WOOD.

NdbOllhoh NOObs hihOii-
can painter, born in Montpelier, YER
mont, in 1929, died in New York city
on the 18th of April, 1908, in the
eightieth year of his age.
Art, in his death, loses one of it's
most conspicuous and effective masters,
Vermont the greatest portrait painter
whom it has produced, and Montpelier
true and loyal friend, whose work
will probably survive as long and hon.
orably al that performed by any of its
sons.
His talent was developed practically
without instruction. A brief stay in
the studio of Chester Harding IN Bos-
ton and three years in Paris substan-
TALLY embraced all the aid to art
which he ever had. For the last forty
years of his brilliant and most distin.
guished career he was the architect Of
his own fortunes as man and paint
err. The manly, rugged, simple quail
lty of his character, the depth and sub
stance of his compositions and his I'M
alterable affection and even love for
his own people and his own kind of
people were never marred by success
however great. He might attain to
the highest offices in the American
academies and be solicited to paint
the most eminent and distinguished
men of his times, or again and again
visit the countries of Europe or the
growing States of his own country, yet
always were his own State and native
town foremost in his affection. He
always returned to them and out of
their history, biography, character, and
lowly but most endearing lives and
scenes he drew the inspiration for his
best and most enduring work.
Mr.. Wood was gentleman of the
old school, the very essence of a dig
nified but happy courtesy, and so hon
est in what he thought was right that
no cajolery or individual gain could
persuade him to change the straight
line of his own course. He tried to
think what was right and then did it,
and in this habit and practice he was
most unyielding, manifesting in that
characteristic the same firm adherence
to purpose and duty which led him to
the perfection of his painters art,
Notwithstanding the comparatively to-
tai lack of opportunity for its cultiva-
ton which his youth afforded.
Had he lived awhile longer, he
might, perhaps, have himself prepared
the catalogue of his varied and most
lllustrious works. The range was
wide, including etchings drawings,
water-oolors and paintings, but main
ly, of course, the latter. His genre
work was admirable and will preserve
some of the most interesting phases of
old life in Vermont, now gradually
giving place to new modes of life and
new ideas. There was not only char
acter but uggestions of history in his
works. This is proved by such titles
as The Sharpshooter, "Politics in
he Workshop" "The Country Doc
tor" Arguing the Question, "a
Poor White,'' "The Return of the
Flag" ga Pinch of Snuff" and the
like His best work, however, was
portraiture and in this he had unusual
opportunity from the fact of his sue
cess, which brought him into contact
with great and distinguished men,
giving him the chance of the master
TO depict on his canvasses the charac-
teristics and strength of the great and
successful men of his times. Names
Clark and Beard suggest this All
over this country, from coast to coast,
Mr.. Woods brush evidenced his pow
er and reputation as II painter in
long series Of portraits of men success
full i'll all the callings and professions
of life.
1t is entirely impossible for us to do
him even partial justice on this sud
den notice of his unexpected death.
1t is easy, however, for us to think
of him in connection with his local
work. In remarkable and almost
exceptional degree he became the
painter of Montpelier. He respected
and loved its people, particularly,
as was natural for man born in the
early years of the city's existence, its
old people. He knew them we'll, I'M
derstood their work, respected their
achievements, honored their virtues
and gave credit for their contributions
to the upbuilding of the State and
its institutions, In certain sense he
did here what the old masters in Eu-
rope did for their guilds and associa-
tions, handed down the characteristics
of our representative men and women.
Our own list is only partially COM
plete, but how true and instructive
this statement is will appear from the
mere citation of few titles which
come to mind, like Judge Prentiss,
Mrs. Prentiss, Dr. Lamb, tire Rev.
William ord SanatOr Morrill, panI