After Thomas G. Moses returned to Chicago in 1904, he exhibited a painting at Suydam’s drug store in Oak Park. Suydam’s was on the corner of Oak Park Avenue and South Boulevard, just a few blocks from Moses’ Oak Park
An ideal location, the drugstore was right next to the railway that took commuters to downtown Chicago. In 1905, the “Oak Park Leaves,” reported, “Mr. Suydam is one of the honest,
Moses’ painting on exhibit at Suydam’s was entitled “The Edge of the Wood.” The composition depicted a view on the Bronx River near New York. The “Oak Park Leaves” published an article on his painting and overall notoriety as a talented scenic artist and designer. Although I have previously posted about much information presented in this article, now is an appropriate moment to pause and reflect on the life of Moses when he was 49 years old. As I just turned 50, this milestone birthday causes one to consider past choices and look toward future opportunities.
The 1905 “Oak Leaves” article began, “T. G. Moses, Artist. Oak Parker Famous as Designer of Scenic Productions – excels in Forest Pictures” ” (15 April 1905, page 25). Here is the remainder of the section about Moses:
“Among the residents of Oak Park who are possibly more famous throughout the country than in their own hometown Thomas G. Moses of South Euclid avenue, whose fame as a scenic artist and designer of scenic productions is co-extensive with the theatrical world. But Mr. Moses’ art is not confined to commercial lines. He is a lover of art for art’s sake, and his leisure moments after many a hard day’s toil, are devoted to the painting of beautiful forest scenes in oil whose merits entitle him to a prominent place among the woodland painters of the country. His last picture, ‘The Edge of the Wood,’ presents a view on the historical Bronx River, near New York, and has been completed during the last month. It is now on exhibition at Suydam’s drug store on Oak Park Avenue. The painting is a fine representation of Mr. Moses’ art, imbuing the viewer with that spirit of restfulness characteristic of the quiet old woods of the east, with the outside sunshine percolating in through the trees and softening into a gentle glow.
“Mr. Moses was born in Liverpool, England. His early life was spent in Sterling, Ill, where he received his first instruction in drawing. When quite young, he took up decorative art with P. M. Almini & Co. of Chicago. The head designer was Louis Malmsha, a famous scenic artist of that time, who became interested in the young man and made him his assistant. This proved to be the making of Moses, as it placed him more in the line of work he wanted, landscape, forest interiors and mountain scenes, schooling him largely to the designing of drop curtains and scenic productions. He is now of the firm Sosman & Landis, the great scenic artists of Chicago. Mr. Moses has traveled quite extensively in this country, has been to California six times to do big scenic productions, such as Booth & Barrett’s Hamlet and Marie Antoinette and Macbeth and Mary Stuart for Modjeska. During the past five years he and his family have resided in New York, where he designed and painted the scenery for the famous Florodora and Silver Slipper. During the summers he sketched the beautiful scenery in the vicinity of Watkin’s Glen, and in the Catskills near Ellenville, N.Y. Two years ago he was admitted to the famous Salmagundi club of New York City, which has membership of their leading artists and sculptors of New York and many non-residents. He has sketched forest from California, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. But none appeal to him as the woods of the east, more quiet and restful, with the delicate birch and beach; a few oaks and moss covered rocks, with a small brook and plenty of sunshine. His pictures are exhibited in New York twice a year. For several years he painted in the studio of R. M. Shurtleff, the well-known painter of forest interiors, where he has secured valuable assistance.” By the way, Roswell M. Shurtleff is credited with the design of the confederate flag as he lay in a confederate hospital as a Union Soldier (see “Tales of a Scenic Artist and Scholar” #448 and #449)
To be continued…
