Showrooms

The Green Swale

Creator: William Langson Lathrop
Offered by: Jim's of Lambertville

Description
Circa 1914. Signed lower right. Complemented by a hand carved and gilt frame.

William L. Lathrop (1859-1938)
Deemed “Father of the New Hope Art Colony”, William Langson Lathrop was born in Warren, Illinois. He was largely self-taught, having only studied briefly with William Merritt Chase in 1887, at the Art Students League. Lathrop first moved east in the early 1880s, and took a job at the Photoengraving Company in New York City. While there, he befriended a fellow employee, Henry B. Snell. The two men became lifelong friends and ultimately, both would be considered central figures among the New Hope Art Colony.

Lathrop's early years as an artist were ones of continuing struggle. His efforts to break through in the New York art scene seemed futile, so he scraped enough money together to travel to Europe with Henry Snell in1888. There he met and married an English girl, Annie Burt. Upon returning to New York, he tried his hand at etching, making tools from old saw blades. Even though his prints were extremely beautiful, he still was impoverished. Lathrop would return to his family in Ohio, before once again attempting the New York art scene. In 1899, with great trepidation, he submitted five small watercolors to an exhibit at the New York Watercolor Club. He won the Evans Prize, the only award given, and four of the five paintings were sold the opening night. At age forty Lathrop’s career would finally take off and he became an “overnight success".

Lathrop came to Phillips Mill for the first time in1898, to visit his boyhood friend, Dr. George Marshall. Shortly after, he and his family purchased the old miller’s house from Dr. Marshall. The Lathrop’s home became a social and artistic center for the growing New Hope colony. Tea and fascinating conversation was the “order of the day” every Sunday. This was a scene fondly recalled by many younger art students that Lathrop taught privately at Phillips Mill. It was common to see groups of his students painting and sketching along the banks of the canal or aboard his canal boat. He had previously taught in the Poconos and at the Lyme, Connecticut Summer School in1907, but Phillips Mill always remained Lathrop’s permanent address.

In 1928, a committee headed by Lathrop was formed to purchase the old Phillips Mill building as a place to hold community gatherings and art exhibitions. The committee had success and in 1929 the Phillips Mill Community Association was formed. This became the center of the New Hope Art Colony holding annual exhibitions and still operating today.

In 1930, Lathrop had built a sailboat he named the “Widge”. For eight consecutive seasons he sailed it along the coast of Long Island, painting as he cruised. In 1938, trying to ride out a storm off Montauk, he died aboard his beloved “Widge,” during a hurricane.

Lathrop is remembered not only for his leading role as founder of the New Hope Art Colony, but as one of the most talented artists to hail from this group of painters. His atmospheric, tonality works as well as his colorful impressionist landscapes are highly sought after by collectors. Relatively prolific throughout his career, Lathrop’s paintings still remain one the best values among the important New Hope Painters.

His work is in the permanent collections of over twenty museums throughout the United States.

William Lathrop exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1922 Gold Medal), the Art institute of Chicago, the Boston Art Club, the American Watercolor Society, the New York Watercolor Club(1899 prize), the National Academy of Design, the Philadelphia Art Club(Gold Medal), the Society of American Artists (1899 prize), the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo (1901 medal), the Carnegie Institute (1903 prize ), the Worcester Art Museum(1904 prize), the Corcoran Gallery Biennials, and the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco(1915 Gold Medal).

Sources: New Hope for American Art by James M. Alterman
International Studio, November 1923.
Bucks County Traveler, June, 1953.
Lyme Summer School, folder, 1907.

More Information

Period:	1900-1919
Materials:	oil on canvas
Condition:	Excellent.
Creation Date:	1914
Styles / Movements:	Impressionism, New Hope School
Incollect Reference #:	138352