Dublin Core
Title
Midsummer Day
Description
From the edge of a lake or slow-moving river, we look across to see several houses built at water’s edge. Using a palette similar to his other New Deal Gallery paintings, Patterson depicts a freshness normally associated with springtime: there appear to be yellow flowers in bloom along the shoreline, and mountains in the distance show no traces of snow.
About the Artist: Born in Monmouth, IL, Patterson’s practice of art required entrepreneurship throughout his life. The son of a printer, he financed his study at Monmouth College by working summers on the railroad in nearby Des Moines, then in 1913 teaching art lessons (Des Moines Register 15 July 1913: 9). He went on to receive further training at the Cummings School of Art (University of Iowa), the Philadelphia School of Design, and a masters in fine arts at Harvard University. At the same time, however, he continued to teach at far-flung locations: the Cummings School (Iowa), Northern State Teachers College (South Dakota), Tulane University, and at the Universities of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin (Des Moines Register 13 Sept. 1925: 10). His professional life, in other words, was contingent; along with his teaching posts are frequent mentions of threatened cuts to art programs. His NDG paintings most likely date to a period when he lived in New York, perhaps teaching at Columbia University. For most of his life Patterson’s horizon remained regional; he often won prizes at the Iowa Art Salon—where he exhibited for 25 consecutive years—and at the Des Moines Women’s Club exhibitions.
About the Artist: Born in Monmouth, IL, Patterson’s practice of art required entrepreneurship throughout his life. The son of a printer, he financed his study at Monmouth College by working summers on the railroad in nearby Des Moines, then in 1913 teaching art lessons (Des Moines Register 15 July 1913: 9). He went on to receive further training at the Cummings School of Art (University of Iowa), the Philadelphia School of Design, and a masters in fine arts at Harvard University. At the same time, however, he continued to teach at far-flung locations: the Cummings School (Iowa), Northern State Teachers College (South Dakota), Tulane University, and at the Universities of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin (Des Moines Register 13 Sept. 1925: 10). His professional life, in other words, was contingent; along with his teaching posts are frequent mentions of threatened cuts to art programs. His NDG paintings most likely date to a period when he lived in New York, perhaps teaching at Columbia University. For most of his life Patterson’s horizon remained regional; he often won prizes at the Iowa Art Salon—where he exhibited for 25 consecutive years—and at the Des Moines Women’s Club exhibitions.
Creator
Patterson, Claude, (1887-1973)
Publisher
Federal Art Project
Date
1937
Contributor
Ritz, Abigail (Photography)
Anderson, Justin (Biography)
Cooper, Ken (Biography)
Anderson, Justin (Biography)
Cooper, Ken (Biography)
Source
New Deal Gallery, Genesee Valley Council on the Arts
Object #FA18234
Object #FA18234
Format
jpeg, 1.1. MB
jpeg, 8.9 MB
jpeg, 8.9 MB
Type
Still Image
Identifier
141
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Oil Painting
Physical Dimensions
19.5 x 23.5 in.
Condition: stained, pencil marks