James Calvert Smith Illustration Painting, Pumpkin

James Calvert Smith (American, 1878-1962) illustration art painting depicting a young woman in Pilgrim style dress sitting on a hearth bench and cutting up slices of pumpkin. The rest of the pumpkin, and baskets of corn and cranberries, sit beside and beneath her. Signed lower right. Later molded and gilt frame. 24" H x 18" W sight, 29" H x 23" W framed. Biography: Micanopy, Florida-born James Calvert Smith was born into a family of pioneering citrus growers. He moved to New York as a young man to begin what would be a long career in illustration art. He created covers for the Saturday Evening Post and many illustrations for Life and Harpers. His unpublished memoir, "Micanopy," is housed at the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History at the University of Florida. Provenance: the estate of Victor T. Patterson, Franklin, TN. Note: born in Georgia and educated at the Parsons School of Design, Victor Patterson served as a cultural representative to Russia with Dwight D. Eisenhower's "People to People" program (prior to its privatization) before moving to the Nashville, Tennessee area to pursue a career in interior design. He was associated with Bradford's for many years before starting his own business. He decorated the Tennessee Governor's Mansion and the home of several country music stars in the 1970s, and filled his home on Franklin's historic Fourth Avenue with art and antiques from his frequent travels.
Condition Report: Craquelure throughout, two 1/2" areas of flaking upper right quadrant, on fireplace and in background; other scattered smaller areas of flaking; small patch en verso lower right; scattered inclusions.