Museum Catalog
The Vermont Historical Society houses over 25,000 objects relating to our State's history. Over the next five years all of these items will be digitally documented and placed in this catalog for public use. Items are presented in topical exhibits as well as categorical groupings. Please check back regularly as items will be added monthly. This catalog also houses the Vermont Women's History Database and the Vermont Black History Database.
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Henry Bridge
Name/Title
Henry Bridge
Type of Painting
Description
A framed painting of a landscape with a red covered bridge spanning a flowing river, flanked by lush green trees on either side, while a grassy riverbank stretches into the foreground. A low dam with flowing water can be seen under the bridge. A man stands with a horse at the river's edge.
Painting is identified as the Henry Covered Bridge in North Bennington by Pasquale Santo. Signed "Patsy Santo" in yellow lower right.
Painting is identified as the Henry Covered Bridge in North Bennington by Pasquale Santo. Signed "Patsy Santo" in yellow lower right.
Acquisition
Accession
2024.25
Artwork Details
Medium
Oil
Subject
Henry Covered Bridge
Made/Created
Artist Information
Santo, Pasquale "Patsy" (1893-1975)
Artist
Date made
1946
Dimensions
Width
25-1/2 in
Height
21-1/2 in
Entry/Object ID
2024.25.1
Context
Patsy Santo pursued a number of professional activities after emigrating to this country from Italy in 1913. He worked for the railroad and as a housepainter. His first artistic effort was an outgrowth of one of his house painting jobs; his second was undertaken at the request of a friend. He did not follow up on these sporadic endeavors until many years later, however, when one of his paintings took first prize at the 1937 state fair in Rutland, Vermont. This brought Santo his first patron and inspired him to start painting in earnest. Other exhibitions followed. His introduction to the New York art world was about as auspicious as any folk painter could hope for. He debuted, with Grandma Moses, Morris Hirshfield, and a number of others, in a 1939 members-only showing at the Museum of Modern Art. His first one-man show at the Marie Harriman Gallery the following year was a virtual sell-out. His paintings were acquired by the Whitney Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Sidney Janis included him in his book, "They Taught Themselves," observing that Santo, unlike most self-taught painters, evidenced continuing stylistic development.
