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The Painting is Finished!
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View the slide show used at the Pierrot painting dedication
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- Jeremy Nichols
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Sonoma Democrat, July 4, 1896
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I am pleased to report that the restoration of the 1896 oil painting, "Sonoma County Hospital" by Eugene Pierrot, has been completed. The reason the painting was created is now known: the artist was thanking Dr. Shearer and the staff of the hospital for taking good care of him. This confirms my suspicion that Pierrot, a portrait painter, made the painting as a portrait of Dr. Shearer rather than as a landscape of the hospital and grounds.
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The frame on the painting when it was found (September 29, 2004) had been purchased at Breuner's in Santa Rosa. The conservator estimated it at 50 years old and therefore not the original. In fact, Eugene Pierrot may not have framed the picture after painting it. Perhaps Dr. Shearer had the carpenter shop at the County Farm build a frame.
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If a frame had been purchased in 1896, it might have come from a place like Stanley's in Santa Rosa. The following advertisement appeared in the Sonoma Democrat for January 25, 1896.
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Sonoma Democrat, January 25, 1896
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The results, after fourteen months of patient waiting, were worth the wait. As you can see from the pictures, the conservator, Mr. Dennis K. Calabi of Sebastopol, did an excellent job. On top of his efforts with the painting itself, he also found the antique frame that now encloses the painting. It was really fortunate that he was able to find a frame of the correct period and size.
The painting will be officially returned to the people of Sonoma County at a Board of Supervisors meeting, probably early next year. Notice of this event will be posted here so that you may attend if you choose. In December, the painting will be placed on display at the Sonoma County Museum until it is time for the official return ceremony.
All of you who supported this project have the thanks of the Sonoma County Historical Society. We are pleased and gratified that you were willing to support our efforts. The history of Sonoma County's medical services to the underprivileged have for too long been ignored; with your help this is being changed.
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Contributors
John Dean Abramson
Bodega Bay Historical Society
Sharon Ford
V. Jean Harris
M. Elaine Huth
Kiwanis
Jeremy Nichols
Nan Perrott
Jean Schulz
Sonoma County Genealogical Society
Sonoma County Historical Society
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R. N. Andriano-Moore
Msgr. Gerard Fahey
Phil Harris
Heritage Network
Alexandra Kindell
Harry Lapham (in memory of Ernie Julius)
Steve Osborn
Dr. Richard Power
Supervisor Tim Smith
Sonoma County Health Services
Marsha Thorpe
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Special Thanks
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Sonoma County Medical Association for publishing an article about the painting in their magazine, Sonoma Medicine. |
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Sonoma County Museum for displaying the painting during the fund raising |
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Sutter Medical Center for x-raying the painting |
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Read about the X-ray process >
Read about the fund raising efforts and Tombstone replacement >
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