White Mountain School: Crawford Notch NH Louella Woolson Hodgman (1841-1917)

Description: FoundAroundNewEngland presents a Louella French (Woolson) Hodgman original oil landscape depicting Crawford Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This 7"x10" canvas is housed in it's original victorian 11 1/4"x 14 1/4" gold-gilt frame. The painting is signed L.F.H. and writing on the back of the frame as well as on an inserted card confirm the origin. We found the piece in Maine from a gentleman who said it belonged to his grandmother. It is presented to you as found with one small indent on the lower right as seen in the closeup provided. The original frame is in excellent condition as pictured with flaking on the unseen underside of the frame edges. Title: Dismal Day at Crawford -Back left side Signed: L.W.H (Louella Woolson Hodgman) -Front bottom left Additional writing on the back (bottom) appears to read: Enwright or similar We were able to find information on Hogman which states that she painted in the late 19th century to provide for her family, including the future iconic author, daughter Eleanor H. Porter (1868-1920). Aside from this beautiful example, we have been unable to find any other paintings by Hodgman. Thank you to the fine folks at Little New Hampshire Historical Society and also to the Public Library for help in researching possible existing pieces of Hodgman's work. An 1880 stereoview card depicting the "County Choir" in Littleton NH gives us a glimpse of Hodgman (far right in last photo). This photograph was taken presumably around the same time that this painting was completed. Luella Hodgman was widowed at a young age in 1876. She used all means available to give her children a better life including family support and by giving painting lessons as well as selling her works. Porter was raised by the artist in Littleton New Hampshire and became a folk hero with her writings including "Pollyanna The Glad Book" which spent 2 years on the best seller list and was featured on film twice (1920, 1960). The title character's name has become globally synonymous with optimism against all odds. Among other dedications, a bronze Pollyanna statue was erected in Littleton and a statewide "Pollyanna Glad Day" was passed into law in 2019. Her mother's painting is a stunning perspective on a familiar sight to past and present visitors of the White Mountains. It is a reminder of a single mother's devotion, using the limited means available to women of the Victorian period in order to provide a better life for her children. Afterall, without Llewella and her paintings, there may not have been the Pollyanna that the world has come to adore. Shipping is calculated for USPS Priority mail, securely packaged. Custom shipping arrangements can be made. Hand delivery in New England is offered and free local pickup is available. Springfield Reporter February 23, 1917 Obituary for Luella (Woolson) Hodgman:HODGMAN An Appreciation of a Remarkable Woman by a Lifelong Friend. Mrs. Luella (Woolson) Hodgman, whose death occurred in Cambridge, Jan. 23, after several years of invalidism, was the mother of Mrs. Eleanor H.Porter, the famous author of and lived for some time in Springfield when the daughter's home was here. The family was originally of Littleton, N. where Mrs. Porter was born. Mrs.Hodgman, who was in her 77th year, last survivor of the eight children sons and three daughters of Elijah Sabin and Hannah (Savage) Woolson. Sept. 22, 1863, the 22nd anniversary birth, she was married to Francis Fletcher Hodgman, who was in business with his father in a drug store at Littleton, where they were the leading apothecaries the town. After the death of the father, the son continued the business until failing health compelled him to retire. He tried the climate of different parts of the country, including Minnesota, without benefit and finally departed this life in Philadelphia, March 4, 1876.His widow was left with two young children, Fred, aged 12, and Eleanor, eight. Concerning the life work of this remarkable woman, and, A. Woolson, a relative and prominent citizen of Lisbon, N. has written an appreciative article, from which the following is the heroic spirit and maternal devotion which characterized her, Mrs. Hodgman determined to do all within her power to equip her children for useful and successful lives.To that end she went to Boston and studied painting and when she had become sufficiently skilled in the use of the brush, she taught art in her native town. Meantime she began to produce paintings, particularly in oil, for the market and not only derived great pleasure from the work itself, but by it was enabled largely to provide for the bringing up and education her children. Beautiful specimens of the work of her brush may be seen in many homes. "As the daughter had shown an unmistakable gift for music, with an ardent desire for its cultivation, she was given during their residence in Boston, a fine musical education, with a musical career in view. It was, however, otherwise decreed.The career which had apparently been foreshadowed by her earlier ambition was abandoned. Her role was not to be played on the operatic stage within the narrow walls of a playhouse, but was to be performed in a broader field, to an audience not limited by the capacity of a theatre or even of a 'tabernacle'. That her musical education has not been in vain, however, the many hundred thousand readers of her stories can happily bear witness. "The son, having had a taste for mechanics, it was decided to give him the advantages of a course in the school of technology at Worcester, the mother. taking up her residence in that city during a portion of the time for the benefit of her son."Since the marriage of her daughter to John L. Porter in 1892, Mrs. Hodgman had lived with them. In addition to the several places of residence already mentioned they have resided in Springfield, and Chattanooga, Tenn. For the last several years their home has been in Cambridge, and it is there that Mrs.Porter has written all her books. "For 15 years or more Mrs. Hodgman had been an invalid and a great sufferer: During the last three years she had been wholly confined her home unable to lie in bed or to walk except with the aid of crutches, seldom being wholly free from pain night or day. The fortitude, patience and cheerfulness with which she bore her suffering elicited the wonder and admiration of her family and friends. "She took an intense interest in her daughter's literary work, in which was an inspiration and help, reading or having read to her the story as it progressed from day to day."This long and painful illness, during which she received the tenderest care from her daughter and son-inlaw, greatly endeared her to "She was one of the best of mothers, always loving, tender, thoughtful and self-sacrificing. Mr. Porter pays this tribute to her of the many years I have known and loved her as my own, she has become dearer sweeter to me and her life more and more "Mrs. was not an ordinary woman. was endowed by nature with rare intellectual gifts, a fine, well balanced mind, a brave, warm heart, a nice sense of justice and high moral courage.She hated deceit, hypocracy and shams in whatever form. She was true and loyal in all the relations of life. She was a fine correspondent and her beautiful letters which she continued to write, even down to the very last, will be sadly missed by her friends. "She had an unwavering Christian faith and a firm belief that in the spirit land shall meet and enjoy our friends. "May we not hope that to her this belief has now become a reality."The body, accompanied by the son and his wife, daughter and her husband, was taken to Littleton and laid by that of her husband in the Hodgman lot in Glenwood (Cemetary Littleon NH)

Price: 3250 USD

Location: Gardner, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-12-13T23:14:12.000Z

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