Pomona

Childe Hassam, Pomona, 1900, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly, 1929.6.60
Copied Childe Hassam, Pomona, 1900, oil on canvas, 37 1825 14 in. (94.364.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly, 1929.6.60
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Artwork Details

Title
Pomona
Date
1900
Dimensions
37 1825 14 in. (94.364.2 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John Gellatly
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Keywords
  • Mythology — classical — Pomona
Object Number
1929.6.60

Artwork Description

This painting shows Pomona, the Roman goddess of gardens and orchards. Childe Hassam, like many artists of the early twentieth century, worried about the effects of working-class immigrants on American society, and the figure of Pomona symbolized his belief that people had to nurture their culture, as they would a garden, to preserve it for future generations. He even described the "radiant" sky in his paintings---a kind of benediction from heaven---as a uniquely American characteristic that, like all of the nation's gifts, helped to foster its culture and pride.