Name/Title
Henry BridgeEntry/Object ID
2024.25.1Description
A framed painting of a landscape with a red covered bridge spanning a flowing river, flanked by lush green trees on either side, while a grassy riverbank stretches into the foreground. A low dam with flowing water can be seen under the bridge. A man stands with a horse at the river's edge.
Painting is identified as the Henry Covered Bridge in North Bennington by Pasquale Santo. Signed "Patsy Santo" in yellow lower right.Type of Painting
EaselArtwork Details
Medium
OilSubject
Henry Covered BridgeSubject Place
Village
North BenningtonCity
BenningtonCounty
Bennington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaContext
Patsy Santo pursued a number of professional activities after emigrating to this country from Italy in 1913. He worked for the railroad and as a housepainter. His first artistic effort was an outgrowth of one of his house painting jobs; his second was undertaken at the request of a friend. He did not follow up on these sporadic endeavors until many years later, however, when one of his paintings took first prize at the 1937 state fair in Rutland, Vermont. This brought Santo his first patron and inspired him to start painting in earnest. Other exhibitions followed. His introduction to the New York art world was about as auspicious as any folk painter could hope for. He debuted, with Grandma Moses, Morris Hirshfield, and a number of others, in a 1939 members-only showing at the Museum of Modern Art. His first one-man show at the Marie Harriman Gallery the following year was a virtual sell-out. His paintings were acquired by the Whitney Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Sidney Janis included him in his book, "They Taught Themselves," observing that Santo, unlike most self-taught painters, evidenced continuing stylistic development.Made/Created
Artist
Santo, Pasquale "Patsy" (1893-1975)Date made
1946Dimensions
Height
21-1/2 inWidth
25-1/2 in