CMCE Catalogue Test

“They Suppose That You Are a Gentleman:” Caroline Morgan Clowes’ Uncharted Path to National Artistic Acclaim A Lost Legacy Regained

From the Collections of The Dutchess County Historical Society New York

“They Suppose That You Are a Gentleman:” Caroline Morgan Clowes’ Uncharted Path to National Artistic Recognition A Lost Legacy Regained

Essays & Catalogue

By Bill Jeffway and Melodye Moore

From the Collections of the Dutchess County Historical Society For the exhibition: Caroline Moran Clowes: Rediscovering An Important 19th Century Painter Locust Grove Historic Site, Poughkeepsie, New York November to December, 2022

© 2022

Introduction

Times New Roman Regular 12 pt. Caroline M. Clowes (1838—1904) was nationally known & celebrated during her lifetime as an accomplished animal & landscape painter. Depicting Dutchess County scenes from her LaGrange backyard studio, her family second home in Florida, and elsewhere, her life and works have been lost to the chronicle of art for over 100 years. Recently rediscovered by her family, and recently restored and researched by the Dutchess County Historical Society, this is the first exhibit of her life story, illustrated by her paintings, sketches, letters, and personal items. With decades of her professional life still ahead of her, her work was featured at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition on the nation's 100th anniversary. Then we'll examine her death, the decline of her legacy, and its energetic rebirth!

Arial regular 12 pt. This chapter examines Caroline’s early life, the period from her birth to age 13 when she moved in with, and was raised by, the LaGrange, Dutchess County family of the deceased mother she never knew. Caroline was born of two families whose brilliance could take many forms. But economic instability, and the fragility of life itself, loomed constantly amid generations of achievement. The marriage of Caroline's parents, William Jones Clowes and Elizabeth Ann Hart, took place on September 24, 1834 at Hempstead, Long Island's St. George’s Episcopal Church. The event would have been full of promise, and full of important guests who were leaders in business, law, faith, publishing and society -- all fruitful pursuits of both the Clowes and Hart families.

Becoming An Artist

Times New Roman regular 11 pt. Caroline M. Clowes (1838—1904) was nationally known & celebrated during her lifetime as an accomplished animal & landscape painter. Depicting Dutchess County scenes from her LaGrange backyard studio, her family second home in Florida, and elsewhere, her life and works have been lost to the chronicle of art for over 100 years. Recently rediscovered by her family, and recently restored and researched by the Dutchess County Historical Society, this is the first exhibit of her life story, illustrated by her paintings, sketches, letters, and personal items. With decades of her professional life still ahead of her, her work was featured at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition on the nation's 100th anniversary. Then we'll examine her death, the decline of her legacy, and its energetic rebirth!

Arial regular 11 pt. This chapter examines Caroline’s early life, the period from her birth to age 13 when she moved in with, and was raised by, the LaGrange, Dutchess County family of the deceased mother she never knew.

Caroline was born of two families whose brilliance could take many forms. But economic instability, and the fragility of life itself, loomed constantly amid generations of achievement. The marriage of Caroline's parents, William Jones Clowes and Elizabeth Ann Hart, took place on September 24, 1834 at Hempstead, Long Island's St. George’s Episcopal Church. The event would have been full of promise, and full of important guests who were leaders in business, law, faith, publishing and society -- all fruitful pursuits of both the Clowes and Hart families.

Later Life & Legacy

Caroline M. Clowes (1838—1904) was nationally known & celebrated during her lifetime as an accomplished animal & landscape painter. Depicting Dutchess County scenes from her LaGrange backyard studio, her family second home in Florida, and elsewhere, her life and works have been lost to the chronicle of art for over 100 years. Recently rediscovered by her family, and recently restored and researched by the Dutchess County Historical Society, this is the first exhibit of her life story, illustrated by her paintings, sketches, letters, and personal items. With decades of her professional life still ahead of her, her work was featured at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition on the nation's 100th anniversary. Then we'll examine her death, the decline of her legacy, and its energetic rebirth!

This chapter examines Caroline’s early life, the period from her birth to age 13 when she moved in with, and was raised by, the LaGrange, Dutchess County family of the deceased mother she never knew.

Caroline was born of two families whose brilliance could take many forms. But economic instability, and the fragility of life itself, loomed constantly amid generations of achievement. The marriage of Caroline's parents, William Jones Clowes and Elizabeth Ann Hart, took place on September 24, 1834 at Hempstead, Long Island's St. George’s Episcopal Church. The event would have been full of promise, and full of important guests who were leaders in business, law, faith, publishing and society -- all fruitful pursuits of both the Clowes and Hart families.

Dutchess County Historical Society N e w Yo r k