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Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné
Catalogue Entry
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Photo: Worcester Art Museum
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26.7 Old Men Reading
In the mid-1870s, Johnson took up the subject of old men reading, sometimes seen outdoors but usually indoors. The large size of the books suggests that the men are reading the Bible. With their suggestion of time passing and the solace of faith, such works are a solemn contrast to the joie de vivre of works such as the Old Stage Coach, which depicts young children using the relics of the past as their playground. —PH
Hills no. 26.7.4
October
Alternate titles: possibly "Dropping Off"; possibly Dropping Off
1873
Oil on canvas mounted on board
26 7/16 x 22 1/4 in. (67.2 x 56.5 cm)
Signed and dated lower left: E. Johnson/1873
Provenance
Possibly R. H. Stoddard, by 1877
Matthew J. Whittall, Worcester, Massachusetts, until 1922
Worcester Masonic Charity and Educational Association, Worcester, Massachusetts, until 2008 (by bequest)
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts, 2008 (by purchase)
Exhibitions
1873c Century Association
Century Association, New York, April 5, 1873, no. 5, [possibly, as Dropping Off].1877b NAD
National Academy of Design, New York, Annual Exhibition, April 3–June 2, 1877. (NAD 1877b); (NAD 1877c), no. 438, [possibly, as "Dropping Off", owner R. H. Stoddard].1907a Century Association
Century Association, New York, Memorial Exhibition of Eastman Johnson, February 9–13, 1907, [possibly, as Dropping Off].References
New York Times 1877
"The Academy of Design: A Morning View of the Pictures." New York Times, April 13, 1877, p. 2 [possibly, as Dropping Off].NAD 1877b
National Academy of Design. Illustrated Catalogue of the 52nd Annual Exhibition. New York: National Academy of Design, 1877. Exhibition catalogue (1877b NAD), no. 438 [possibly, as Dropping Off].Kennedy Galleries 1920
Catalogue of an Exhibition of Charcoal Drawings by Eastman Johnson. New York: Kennedy Galleries, 1920. Exhibition catalogue (1920 Kennedy Galleries), p. 12, addendum “Paintings by Eastman Johnson" [possibly, as Dropping Off].Related work
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Keywords
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Record last updated August 25, 2021. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Hills, Patricia, and Abigael MacGibeny. "October, 1873 (Hills no. 26.7.4)." Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné. www.eastmanjohnson.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=436 (accessed on April 29, 2024).