Several years ago, I acquired an unknown Marsden Hartley painting done in Eastern Points, Nova Scotia, in 1936. This 18" x 24" oil on Masonite, depicts the devastating physical and emotional aftermath of a ravaging Nor'easter storm that took the lives of the two beloved Mason brothers and their young cousin.

The importance of this small, seemingly insignificant painting cannot be underestimated, as it is an unambiguous confirmation of how Hartley's paintings, in the final years of his life, were not just simple landscapes and seascapes of Maine as some would have you believe. Rather, they were often heartfelt tributes to people he had loved. For just one example, there are many who have suspected that the five birds in Hartley's iconic 1938 painting called Birds of Bagaduce represented the Mason family: that as he sat by the Bagaduce river, his thoughts wandered to memories of Nova Scotia. Most historians reject this connection, as illustrated as recently as 2017 in the Met Breuer's "Marsden Hartley's Maine" exhibition and book. But this small 1936 painting confirms the Mason/Bagaduce connection to be true. Understanding Hartley's use of symbolism in his later years opens the door to his sustained depth as an artist, and to an exciting clearer vision of his work in the final seven years of his life. The reason why Hartley was compelled to mask these tributes will become apparent in future chapters of this story.

The three young men were only minutes from reaching their home when the raging sea took their lives. I have named this painting "Minutes from Shore" in memory of that tragic event.

- A.A.Duff -

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Last updated: December, 2023

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