Date: Fri 20-Mar-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Bennington

Full Text:

Bennington Museum Acquires Grandma Moses Painting Of Hoosick Falls

BENNINGTON, VT. -- The Bennington Museum has acquired a painting by Anna Mary

Robertson Moses (1860-1961), the American self-taught artist more famously

known as Grandma Moses.

An oil on Masonite, "Village of Hoosick Falls" dates to 1943 is 18 by 24×

inches. The painting is in exceptional condition and has been examined by the

museum staff and conservators from the Williamstown Art Conservation Center in

Williamstown, Mass.

The town of Hoosick Falls is near the New York/Vermont border, northwest of

Albany, N.Y., and only a few miles from Bennington. Grandma Moses lived in

Eagle Bridge, a small community between Bennington and Hoosick, and she is

buried in the family lot just south of the latter. She did several scenes of

Hoosick.

Most of her paintings rely on her memory and imagination. Certainly the strong

character of both the town and the artist are evident in the painting. In her

distinctive style, Moses captured the essence of the Victorian industrial

village and the distant agricultural landscape. Central to the scene is the

Hoosick River, several factory buildings, and the railroad. A variety of

houses, churches, and shop buildings fill the image. In the lower left corner,

colorful fruit trees abound.

In addition to being welcome as a fine example of the art of Grandma Moses,

the scene is of value to the Bennington Museum because it covers an important

regional subject. The Bennington Museum preserves the heritage of southern

Vermont and historically associated areas of New York, Massachusetts and New

Hampshire. New acquisitions are always sought to present an insightful picture

of an unusual part of America. "Village of Hoosick Falls" provides a record of

a vital time in the area's history.

The painting was acquired from Hammer Galleries in New York City, where it was

part of a large recent exhibition devoted to Grandma Moses.

The Bennington Museum holds the largest public collection of art by Grandma

Moses and includes original memorabilia as well as documents pertaining to her

personal life and accomplishments. These are shown in two galleries including

the actual one-room Nineteenth Century schoolhouse Moses and members of her

family attended in nearby Eagle Bridge, N.Y.

The Bennington Museum, West Main Street, and is open daily 9 am-5 pm.