Seton included in Exhibition of Cos Cob Artists

from the Greenwich Post

Sep 7, 2007
Historic site to feature Cos Cob artist illlustrations

This illustration is from 'Tora's Happy Day' by Florence Peltier Perry. It was illustrated by Genjiro Yeto in 1899

A new exhibition, "Once Upon a Page: Illustrations by Cos Cob Artists" will be on display at Bush-Holley Historic Site from Wednesday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Jan. 6.

A public opening reception will take place on Thursday, October 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

The exhibit will feature more than 90 works, including illustrated books, original drawings and paintings. This is the first exhibition to bring together works by eight artist-illustrators who had an association with the Greenwich area and the Cos Cob art colony from 1890-1920: John Wolcott Adams, George Wharton Edwards, Childe Hassam, Rose Cecil O’Neill, Ernest Thompson Seton, E. Boyd Smith, Jean Webster and Genjiro Yeto.

The exhibition is guest curated by Marilyn Symmes, Director of the Morse Research Center for Graphic Arts, Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in New Jersey.

American Impressionist John H. Twachtman settled in Greenwich in 1889 and by 1891 began teaching summer art classes at the Holley House, a boardinghouse in Cos Cob owned by Josephine and Edward Holley. Before long, a lively art colony developed around Mr. Twachtman. Known today as Bush-Holley House, the Holley House served as the artistic and intellectual hub for artists, journalists and authors who came to the area from New York and played a major role in the development of American Impressionist art. While this vibrant artist colony flourished, America was also enjoying a golden age of illustration. An unprecedented number of illustrated books and periodicals were produced. Advances in commercial printing and photography gave illustrators more options for replicating their images on the printed page.

The works of the authors and illustrators included in this exhibition cover a broad spectrum of topics from flights of fantasy to discovery of the real world and explorations into the past and present. They also provide insights into American society at the outset of the modern era.

"Once Upon a Page" features works from the William E. Finch Jr. Archives of The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich as well as loans from Susan G. and James T. Larkin, Robert Russell, the Boston Public Library, the Brandywine River Museum, The Bruce Museum, the Florence Griswold Museum, The New York Public Library, the Wilton Historical Society and Heritage Museum and an anonymous private collector.

The exhibition and catalogue are generously underwritten by The Host Committee of the 75th Anniversary of The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich and through additional underwriting gifts from Robert C. and Julie Graham, The Overbrook Foundation in honor of the 75th Anniversary and Charles M. and Deborah Royce.

The exhibition is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 4. Admission to the gallery, visitor center and Bush-Holley House Museum is $6 adults, $4 seniors and students. Children under 6 are free. Admission is free every Tuesday. Call 869-6899, ext. 10, for more information or visit Hstg.org.