Hobart and William Smith Colleges

9 October 2014 Scudamore '55 Donates Painting

Richard A. Scudamore 55 recently donated Grand Manan, a painting by Alfred Thompson Bricher (1837-1908), to Hobart and William Smith. A generous contributor to the Colleges Collection, Scudamore has donated a number of paintings of the Hudson River School and the California Impressionists over the years, including works by Jasper Cropsey, Dewitt Parshall and Douglass Parshall.

Mr. Scudamores gifts have single-handedly made our holdings of late 19th century American painting a substantial collection, helpful for our educational mission as well as providing beauty to our community, says Kathryn Vaughn, visual arts curator.

Grand Manan is a 4699 centimeter oil on canvas. It is a depiction of Grand Manan, an island in New Brunswick, Canada, that became a favorite subject after Brichers first visit to the island in the mid-1870s. The colors combine to form a serene and natural feel.

Bricher was inspired by the work of the Luminists, John Kensett and Martin Johson Heade. He was associated with White Mountain art and the Hudson River School and is well known for his marine subjects. Brichers work is represented in the Metropolitan Museum of New York as well as many other public and private collections.

Grand Manan currently hangs in the Presidents House.

Scudamore earned his B.S. in biology and chemistry from Hobart College. As a student, he was a member of the Board of Control, Canterbury Club, Newman Club and the football and baseball teams.