Although this itinerant artist possibly took liberties in the placement of the buildings, the view through the straight line of trees with another line of trees to the right, frames out this very straight forward depiction of the farm with its horse.

~ ITEM DETAILS ~

Dimensions: 18 x 24 1/2 inches
Date / Circa: c. 1900-15
Maker / Origin: Signed "F.H. Sweet", probably Mohawk Valley
Medium: Oil on artist board. Period mahogany veneered frame 26 1/4 x 32 1/4 inches.
Miscellaneous: Another farm scene, "The Buck Farm" by Sweet is in the collection of the Fenimore Art Museum at Cooperstown. Quoted from the blog sight of the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown: "Frank H. Sweet was born in Middleville, about 10 miles north of Mohawk, date unknown but most definitely with both arms intact. As a youth his right side was paralyzed by an overdose of medicine. He worked in Glens Falls as a bookkeeper for a time, and then moved back to the Mohawk Valley. At some point he started painting for a living, getting buggy rides from the family he lived with and apparently painting or sketching local farms from the buggy, using his left hand. He died before 1940 and is buried in Middleville Cemetery in Herkimer County." Visit their blog by copying the link below to your web server: http://folkartcooperstown.blogspot.com/2009/09/did-fh-sweet-really-paint-with-his-feet.html

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