Name/Title
Cole, Thomas Casilear (1888-1976) "Old Fish Wharves, Rockport"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18135Tags
Oil PaintingDescription
Cole's painting is very still and serene. There is virtually no movement--even the water is calm--and the air appears suffused with a hazy glow. The scene's imbalanced composition leaves a space for an implied sunrise or sunset at right. Cole's simplification into a few chosen objects draws our eyes to the boats in the water, their color contrasting with the surrounding scenery.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Cole, Thomas CasilearDate made
1935 - 1940Dimensions
Height
16 inWidth
20-1/2 inCondition
Overall Condition
GoodDate Examined
Jul 21, 2025Notes
6+ cracks top right side/middle right edge/lower right corner, canvas wooden frame pressing through/staining/indent/scoff throughout/upper half/lower right cornerProvenance
Provenance Detail
Created under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project (1930s–1940s), this collection of easel paintings was originally installed at the Mount Morris Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Livingston County, New York. Following the sanitorium’s closure in 1970, the artworks were abandoned and remained in storage until their rediscovery decades later. Now preserved and exhibited by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA), the collection is housed at the New Deal Museum in Mount Morris. Current efforts include digitization, high-resolution photography, and the creation of an online archive to ensure long-term public access and research availability.General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
See the entry titled 'New Deal Collection Documents' for supporting documents, and general historic and research information.
