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Exhibition History“Rediscovered Painters of Upstate New York,” New York Historical Society, NY, February 1, 1959 – February 28, 1959; Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts, Syracuse, NY, January 4, 1959 – January 25, 1959; Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, November 30, 1958 – December 21, 1958; Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, NY, October 30, 1958 – November 20, 1958; Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY, September 26, 1958 – October 21, 1958; New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY, June 14, 1958 – September 15, 1958.
“To Form a More Perfect Union: The U.S. Constitution,” Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, MA., April 1, 1987 - March 15, 1988.
“Portrait of the American Law,” National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington DC, October 13, 1989 - January 15, 1990.
“American Treasures from the Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York,” Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL, February 11, 2004 - April 16, 2004.
Artist
Tompkins Harrison Matteson
(1813 - 1884)
Justice's Court in the Back Woods
Date1850
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsFramed: 42 15/16 × 55 1/8 × 5 3/8 in. (109.1 × 140 × 13.7 cm)
Sight: 31 15/16 × 44 in. (81.1 × 111.8 cm)
Object numberN0411.1955
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Milo Stewart
Label TextJustice's Court in the Back Woods is a celebration of American democracy and justice. Tompkins Harrison Matteson's depiction of a shoemaker, who is also Justice of the Peace and postmaster, suggests the versatility and self-reliance required of those living in rural America.
In this painting, the Justice is hearing an assault case, as the lawyers for the plaintiff (with bandaged head, leaning on the table at right) and the defendant (sitting by the window at left being consoled by a woman) argue strenuously. Enhancing the painting is Matteson's detailed rendering of incidental objects, particularly the tools of the shoemaker's trade in the foreground.
Largely self-trained, Matteson painted the majority of his works while living in rural upstate New York. Matteson opened a studio and painted portraits and genre scenes, but he made his reputation as an historical painter.Exhibition History“Rediscovered Painters of Upstate New York,” New York Historical Society, NY, February 1, 1959 – February 28, 1959; Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts, Syracuse, NY, January 4, 1959 – January 25, 1959; Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, NY, November 30, 1958 – December 21, 1958; Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, NY, October 30, 1958 – November 20, 1958; Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY, September 26, 1958 – October 21, 1958; New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY, June 14, 1958 – September 15, 1958.
“To Form a More Perfect Union: The U.S. Constitution,” Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, MA., April 1, 1987 - March 15, 1988.
“Portrait of the American Law,” National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington DC, October 13, 1989 - January 15, 1990.
“American Treasures from the Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York,” Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL, February 11, 2004 - April 16, 2004.
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On view
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