Painting of the Day, January 20, 2012

By Donna Poulton

After his studies at the California School of Design and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Utah artist, James T. Harwood served as the chairman of the Department of Art at the University of Utah from 1923 -1931.

James T. Harwood (1860-1940), Richards Camp, Holiday Park, Weber Canyon, 1888, oil on canvas, 26 x 45 in. Credit: Springville Museum of Art“Richards' Camp, Holiday Park-Weber Canyon, is more autobiographical than any other Utah painting from [Harwood’s] pioneer period. The setting is the campground at Holiday Park that belonged to Harwood's soon-to-be in-laws. The camp activities were recorded on canvas by J. T. Harwood in July and signed on the 3rd of August 1888.”

Detail. Credit: Springville Museum of Art “The painting depicts a number of white tents nestled among tall pines in a forest clearing. Harriett's (Hattie's) father, Dr. Heber John Richards, is resting on a hammock, wearing a pith helmet and smoking a cigar. His wife and five daughters dot the scene. The mother and her two daughters are preparing food, while a son-in-law in fishing gear is on the left. Elsewhere, another daughter is reading a book, while the youngest daughter holds her doll. The most interesting aspect of the picture is the image of the artist holding an easel and paint kit, preparing to paint oil studies. He furtively peeks to his left at Hattie, who has filled a pail of water for the camp.” - Vern Swanson, Springville Museum of Art