Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-03-21
ARTISTS OF VERMONT.
from former issue.


Thomas Waterman Wood, New
York. son of John and Mary water
MANI Wood, born Nov. IL, 1923, at
MONTPELIER, may justly be considered
the foremost translator of that great
Dutch master, Rembrandt Van Rim,
who was born in 1907 and died in 1869,
in Amsterdam. Wood began his early
education in schools of Washington
county, VT. His art training was ac-
ouired in the great cities OF Boston,
London, Paris, Florence and Rome.
He was famous as an artist and por-
trait painter in Quebec in 1850. In
Washington, d. c., he became famous
in $50. In '57 and '5S In Baltimore.
In Nashville and Louisville he was
famous till '65. Two years, from '5S
to 80, were spent in study abroad. In
,66 he located in New York City and
in ,69 was elected as an associate OF
the National Academy of Design, and
Aoademician in III. From '79 to go he
was vice president of the academy,
and is now president of that institu-
ton. From '7S to 1877 he was president
of the American Water Color Society.
He was truly genre painter and it
has been the pleasure of you all, per-
haps, while visiting the public library
at st. Johnsbury, to see some of his
works there. Perhaps some of you
recall his son Guard' which was
painted to order. In the picture we
see represented an infant, fast asleep,
in q wood cradle having a wood COW
eriug over the head. Along on some
of the edges of the cradle the red
paint is worn off. The coverlet of
bright colored patchwork hangs
across the cradle, reaching to the
floor on front side The head of the
child is in semi shadow; the flesh tints
are SO soft and delicate that one
knows the artist admires the fine soft
baby cheeks. Then the one little hand
thrown over the edge of cradle has
perfect little fingers. The family
watch dog with wide open eyes, on
the alert, tho lying down before the
open fireplace, speaks much in bis
watchful face. The live Goals under
the iron teakettle, lack only heat, to
be real. Other objects in the rather
humble looking room, are also faith
fully painted. His "The Argument
is just as true to life, representing two
men in earnest conversation, while
the third one smokes his pipe at a
| little distance from the disputants,
yet is intensely interested in their
conversation. Another one of Woods
is a copy of Rosa Bonheur's "Le
Labourage Nivernais" (Oxen Plough
ing) which is also in the library. For
the purpose of adding copy of Rem
brandt's "The Ship Builder and His
Wife" (Which sold in 1910 for 1880
francs - equivalent to $3,035 90, TO
the Wood Art Gallery in Montpelier
Wood visited England in 1898. To
secure his purpose, he first enlisted
long standing friendship with Sena-
tor Morrill,, who obtained for him
letter from the secretary of state
John Sherman, to our ambassador al
the Court of st. James, John Hay
When the letter was first received
Hay shook his head with doubt, but
finally succeeded in securing the
Queens consent. "The Shipbuilder'
dates back to 1888, one of the earlies
of Rem5randt's works. In '99 Woo
exhibited a profound interest il
the church of st. Augustine, thel
building in Montpelier, by securing
for its service a pendant to the Ell
Madonna del Rosario" was conse
Grated with much ceremony by Bishol
de Gosbriand in 1897. He also Sc
cured permission to copy 9Th
TRANSPORTATION" in the Vatican a
Rome; then sought the blessing of Hi
Holiness, the Pope, upon his picture
There being no precedent for sucn a
act he succeeded at first only in ellie
iting "Come, let Us have a look q
your work" from the Chamberlain {
the Vatican. After silently inspectin
the painting for long time he de
: parted, saying quietly Good! Wei
we shall see." On the same day NJ
Wood was instructed to have ii
painting conveyed to the priva'
apartments of the Pope and Their
with the aid of assistants, it W.
placed in room adjoining that o.
cupied by the Pope. The purpose fl
which the copy had been made, i
sacred destination, the story of IL
st. Augustine within the hills of We
mont. were told to His Holiness
detail by Mgr. o Cogiano de Azeved
ne Maestro di Camera. After which Il
ut XIII, who had listened to the recit
or with the utmost interest and kindnes