Object ID	N0044.1961
Title	Bear and Pears
Artist	Unidentified
Object Name	Painting
Early Date	1825
Late Date	1835
Exhibit label line3	In early and mid 19th-century America, itinerant artists provided rural homeowners with inexpensive painted decoration in imitation of imported wallpaper. Scenic murals were especially popular, as evidenced by this painted fireboard. The unknown painter of "Bear and Pears" decorated several homes in the same manner, including a farmhouse in Lisbon, New Hampshire, a house in Thornton, New Hampshire (the painted walls from which are in the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City), and a house in Norridgewock, Maine.
Description	Painting of country scene, primarily green and cream colors. Three large trees dominate, filling the upper spaces of the painting. Two outside trees have large orange brown pears or beeves hanging from them. There are several smaller trees in background and a small white house and red barn in center. A bear depicted at base of the tree to right, and a deer and beaver are seen in bottom left. Large black frame. No marks.
Dimensions	H-33 W-45 inches
Material	Oil on wood panel
Place of Origin	New Hampshire, possibly

Prior written permission is required for any reproduction, redistribution, publication, or other use of the images in any media, including but not limited to, printed or electronic media. Contact the Office of the Registrar, New York State Historical Association, PO Box 800, Cooperstown, NY 13326, (607) 547-1444, to request permission.    
Last modified on: November 04, 2005