Name/Title
Gordon, Benjamin T. (1878-1940) "The Two Birches"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18165Tags
Oil PaintingDescription
The title of this painting isn't clear; it's inscribed as "Gray Day" on the frame, but listed as "The Two Birches" in its NDG and General Services Administration records--which is followed here for the sake of institutional continuity. The canvas itself shows Gordon's talents as an evocative colorist, using cool tones of gray, rose, mauve and green. As in his other NDG works, tree trunks are one of the few elements that are sharply delineated. A light source at top center suggests that it may owe something to the moonlit landscapes of Ralph Albert Blakelock.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionMade/Created
Artist
Gordon, Benjamin T.Date made
1935 - 1940Dimensions
Height
19-1/2 inWidth
23-1/2 inCondition
Overall Condition
PoorDate Examined
Jul 26, 2025Notes
3+ cracks throughout sky/water and edges of tree foliage, 1 chip middle right side, 8 scratches lower right and left corners/right middle edges/bottom, 9 holes lower right corner/lower left corner/along top edge/upper right corner/middle left edge, fading color/nails pressing on canvas/stain throughout edges/lower right cornerRecommendations
requires repairs for stains, holes, tears and requires cleaning.Provenance
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.
