John Thomason (American, b.1903, d.1985) Genesee River Hojack Railroad Swing Bridge Oil On Board Painting FRAMED. He was a Prominent Rochester New York artist. Signed on the back John Thomason was born on 14 December 1903 in the Bronx, New York City. Thomason received his early training as an artist in New York City high schools. He also studied at the National Academy of Design, Art Students League, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of Rochester Memorial Art Gallery under Fritz Trautman. In 1963 Thomason went to Rochester, NY to teach at the newly opened Monroe Community College.
He later became the Director of Art there and retired in 1970. His home and studio were on Conesus Lake in Geneseo, NY. His biography appears in Scenes of Monroe and Ontario Counties Past and Present by Anne Peacock-Jacobs. Thomason was active in the Rochester Art Club and Geneseo artists' groups. He exhibited in Rochester and New York City. John Thomason died in January of 1985 in Geneseo, New York. This identification is possible because, in addition to signing his name on the back of one of his oils, he also included his address, 1559 Undercliff Avenue, an address found in the Bronx, New York. The family was residing there in 1920 and 1930 during the censuses.
John Thomason is listed in Davenport's Art Reference and Price Guide as a 20th Century New York artist. John Thomason is mentioned in Falk's Who Was Who in American Art, 3 volumes edition, but I have not yet had the opportunity to examine Falk's work, so do not known which John Thomason it is. John Thomason was one of six artists who were featured in an exhibition of oils and watercolors called "Exhibition of Paintings by a Group of Six" at a New York gallery, Barbizon-Plaza Art Galleries in 1941. The other artists were David Jacobson, T. Oscar Maine, Arthur Tilgner, Oscar Ralph Weidhass, and Edward Sunquist. This show ran from 22 September - 20 October 1941. All of these artists were active in New York City in the 1940's.
Hojack Bridge (1905 - 201) This bridge is an impressive railroad swing bridge. It is noteworthy as one of the few known surviving swing bridges associated with the noteworthy and prolific King Bridge Company. It was built in 1905 to serve the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad and most recently served CSX Railroad.
16" x 20" and 19.5" x 23.5" framed. Good condition, some light frame wear. Signed on the back. No inpainting, ink mark lower right. A nice find.
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