North Cornwall Meeting House, by Ruth Chrisman Gannett, Amer., (1896-1979)

Lithograph, Ed. unknown, 12 x 9-7/8, paper tone faded to a cool white within old mat opening, two pin holes well below pencil signature with ruled pencil line where an exhibition label or business card was likely pinned, signed in pencil, on thick warm white wove paper, 16-7/16 x 11-7/8. Ruth Chrisman Gannett is best known perhaps as the illustrator of John Steinbeck's Tortilla Flats and the children's book My Father's Dragon, written by her stepdaughter Ruth Stiles Gannett Kahn. Ruth Chrisman Gannett created a number of fine lithographs in the 1930's -50's, but specific information on dates and edition sizes is scant as she usually only signed her prints in pencil with no indication of title, date or edition size. With her precise rendering, nuanced detail,  love of home, rural architecture and nature, Gannett's lithographs remind one at times of those by her artist friends Wanda Gag, who lived nearby in Gaylordsville for a time, and Edith Newton of New Milford, who's prints share an even stronger affinity with Gannett's. This beautiful North Cornwall, CT Meeting House was built in 1826, and since 1957 has been houme to the United Church of Christ, a Congregational denomiation. Gannett has created a pristine rendering of this classic local New England landmark, with great attention to minute detail and a lumious, cloud filled sky.