The Road to the Bowne House

Period1893

MediumOil on wood panel

Dimensions11.5 × 24 in. (29.2 × 61 cm)

InscribedA paper label attached to the back of the panel reads, "no 63 / Road to Bown Homestead / A. H. / Painted by Jas. Crawford Thom / 1893 / size 11.5 X 24 Rabbit."

SignedSigned lower right, "J. Crawford Thom / x93."

ClassificationsLandscapes & Still Life

Credit LineMarshall P. Blankarn Purchasing Fund, 1987

Object number1987.7

DescriptionA late summer/early fall landscape view looking up a long dirt drive to a barn located left of center in the distance, with a story-and-a-half house to its right. The barn and house are separated by trees, with additional trees obscuring part of the house. Another stand of trees appears to the left of the roadway, with grassy areas in the foreground. Open fields can be seen beyond the trees, and to the right of the roadway. Two figures are walking up the roadway headed toward the farm. The sky is a sunny blue with white clouds.
Curatorial RemarksJames Crawford Thom moved in 1892 to a house and studio on Bayview Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, a short walk from the Bowne House. He resided there until his death in 1898. Thom held frequent public exhibits in his studio while living in Atlantic Highlands. This painting is typical of much of his later work, in that it is in the format of a long rectangle with details such as the house and barn barely visible in the distance. The artist paid much attention to the vegetation in this landscape, and placed very tiny human figures in the middle distance.NotesThe historic Bowne House, built about 1820 - 1830, is located in a very obscure lot in Leonardo, Monmouth County. Entry to it is via a long driveway at the end of Leonard Avenue near its intersection with Bowne Avenue. It incorporates an earlier structure possibly dating from the 18th century. Although owned privately, the property surrounding the Bowne House is reserved parkland. Wagner's Creek flows down a steep bank behind the building.

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