100 years old, today! When I was a wee thing, I used to climb up onto the crushed velvet chair in my parents' living room to admire that painting and, yep, when I finally settled into a permanent home, I pleaded with my mother to please, please pass it on to me. It was her favorite, as well, although it was in a closet by that point. My grandmother was not a known painter, although she did teach art at university level for a couple of years. So her paintings have no monetary value. What makes this painting particularly special is not just the fact that it's one of the prettiest paintings I've seen by my grandmother but the fact that it was painted 5 months before her 12th birthday.
That's right. My grandmother painted this when she was 11 years old. Cool or what?©2012 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.
That is worth so much more than money.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly an awesome memento!
DeleteOh my gosh! Are you serious?! I was thinking how beautiful it was but that fact that she painted it when she was 11! Wow, just wow!
ReplyDeleteYep, she was born in November of 1900 or 1901. I can't actually remember which. She might have been 10, but we'll just go with 11. LOL My memory is definitely going. Isn't it gorgeous? I have always loved that painting.
DeleteWow, that's awesome! She was certainly talented. I have a painting done by my great-aunt, which I think it kinda cool, but I must admit she wasn't nearly as talented as your grandmother!
ReplyDeleteThanks, yeah, she was talented and quite a go-getter, too. She eventually switched to painting dishes, collecting and dressing dolls and quilting. There was never a time in her life that my grandmother wasn't doing something creative.
DeleteVery cool that you have a painting by your great-aunt! I have a quilt by some ancient relative, too. I think handmade family items are the most wonderful treasures.
I agree, there's something so amazing about owning something that a relative made. I treasure my bedspread knitted by my grandmother for the same reason (even though she made it for a single bed and I've now graduated to a queen!).
DeleteHandmade gifts are definitely the most special items. A knitted bedspread! Wonderful!!!!
DeleteFascinating! And she already understood perspective (that person in the near front is big compared to the house across the water), shadows (like under the top of the windmill), and reflections (the red roof on the still water). And if that's watercolor, as it seems to be, then she had to get it right on the first swipe of her brush.
ReplyDeleteYep! She seems to have come to artistic understanding quite early and naturally. It is watercolor. All her paintings were watercolor.
DeleteThat is so cool! She was very talented...I could barely draw stick figures at that age. Heck...I can barely draw them now!
ReplyDeleteLOL I'll bet you could handle stick figures. I have a self-portrait I drew when I was 10. It's pretty humorous.
DeleteOh, I love the painting. She was so talented and how lovely for you to share this with us for a treat. Hang in there, Nancy. Moving is a lot of hard work! Think how wonderful it will be when you are all settled in the new place with everything fresh and pretty. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay, on several counts. Yep, moving is a lot of work, all right. I know you're well acquainted with it, after your recent move. It's exciting, though, too. My husband keeps telling me to "Quit over-thinking" the decorating but that's the fun part! I like imagining what we'll do with different rooms.
DeleteWow...what talent and what a wonderful keepsake!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is an amazing painting and a lovely story behind it! I can see why it's a favorite.
ReplyDeleteHoly moly, that woman had some serious talent! I would love to have had that painting on my wall as a child, to inspire and delight me. This is just the coolest thing, and I am so glad that it is yours! This is a very special day indeed!
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