Thanksgiving is forever linked with the story of the Plymouth Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians who dined together in 1621. Also forever enshrining that scene for us is an oil painting, “The First Thanksgiving,” done by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, of Honesdale, Pa. In 1914.

HONESDALE - Thanksgiving is forever linked with the story of the Plymouth Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians who dined together in 1621. Also forever enshrining that scene for us is an oil painting, “The First Thanksgiving,” done by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, of Honesdale, Pa. In 1914.

“The First Thanksgiving” captures in an ideal setting, the Pilgrims and Indians sitting down at a table outside the cabins, Elder Brewster standing and offering a prayer of thanks to God no doubt not only for their bounty, but for their survival, their new found brotherhood with the Natives, and at the same time proclaiming trust in God for continued divine care.

According to information from Pilgrim Hill Museum, the painting was made during the “Colonial Revival Period” and Brownscombe chose some details that are inconsistent with history. These include the log cabin and the Sioux feather headdress. She did this to create a panting that symbolized American history.

“The entire image, however, with its elements of religious solemnity, feasting and community has a strong emotional appeal even today and shows a Thanksgiving with which early twentieth century Americans would feel comfortable,” as stated on the Pilgrim Hall website.

“The First Thanksgiving” was featured in Life Magazine.



Hangs in Pilgrim Hall



The oil painting today has been exhibited in Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts for many years. Beside the painting is a plaque locating the artist’s birthplace. The painting turns out to be one of many done by this prolific artist.

Jennie Brownscombe was born December 10, 1850 in a farm house on Cliff Street, in what is today within the limits of Honesdale Borough. In these days, a woman’s place was not expected to be one of schooling and developing one’s potential.

Jennie’s family on her mother’s side were Mayflower descendants, related to Elder Brewster. She did not discover this lineage until late in life, long after she painted “The First thanksgiving.”

She was born to William and Elvira (Kennedy) Brownscombe. Her father, a Methodist who immigrated from England, joined his brother in the Hawley area in 1836. Elvira was born at Mount Pleasant in northern Wayne County in 1809. Her mother’s father, Sgt. Joseph Stearns, had fought for the American Revolution.

From an early age, Jennie loved to draw. Her mother encouraged her, although rather than buying expensive paints, Jennie would rub flowers and leaves to color her sketches.

She attended a one-room school, and was known to sketch her schoolmates during class, despite reprimands from her teacher. She exhibited her work at the Wayne County Fair, which started in 1861.

She was determined to be a painter. Being a girl and raised in a rural home to a family of modest income, did not keep her from her dream.



Followed her dream



Jennie taught a few terms in Wayne County schools and then the Honesdale Academy.

She raised enough funds to begin art studies at Cooper Union in New York. The National Academy of Design followed. In 1875, she co-founded the Art Students League.

Beside drawing for publications, in 1876 she exhibited her first oil painting at the Academy and sold it.

In 1882 she traveled to Paris to study with American genre painter Henry Mosler. He was one of the few art teachers who accepted female students.

Her paintings started to appear in books, magazines, calendars and greeting cards, expanding her fame. Between 1888 and 1895, she kept a winter studio in Rome, as well as a studio at Greenwich Village.

Among her accomplishments, the Royal Academy in London featured an exhibit of several of her works, in 1900. She also had a studio for many years in the Catskills.

Historical themes were important to Jennie. Interest in national history was keen with the arrival of the nation’s centennial, which helped catapult the popularity of her work.

As an example, “The First Thanksgiving” was created during the Colonial Revival Period.

The artist chose some details inconsistent with history, such as the Sioux feather head dress and the log cabin. The painting was an effort to symbolize this historic event. The Pilgrim Hall Museum officials note that this piece gained a wide and receptive audience. It was featured in Life magazine. Other paintings dealt with the Revolutionary War, and the founding of the nation, as well as every day life in early America. She did meticulous research for her pieces, examining artifacts, period clothing and antique furniture.



Remembered her roots



She would not forget her roots. She visited Honesdale, and had a summer studio at 926 Main Street, on the third floor. Some of her paintings include old friends and neighbors from Honesdale, who served as models. She donated works to the Lincoln School late in life. Three paintings were put there in the 1930′s, and remained for decades. One entitled ‘Children Playing in the Orchard” found its way into the Wayne Highlands School District Board Room.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York owns examples of her work.

The writer’s parents, who met as art students while enrolled at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, went to meet Jennie Brownscombe at her Bayside, Long Island home in the spring of 1936. Jennie died on August 5, 1936, at the age of 85. She was buried by her parents in Glen Dyberry Cemetery, Honesdale. She had continued painting until nearly the end of her long life.

Jennie has not been forgotten. Her life and work have been the focus of numerous exhibits and programs at the Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale, which has a number of her paintings.

In 2005, her life and work were the subject of a 45 minute digital video documentary entitled, ’“She Painted the World: the Life of Jennie Brownscombe”. The movie was produced by Ian Pugh, who was studying ton become a film maker, and was assisted by his father Donald Pugh.

The Wayne County Historical Society,810 Main St., Honesdale, has held several exhibits of Jennie Brownscombe. They have several of her paintings in their collection. The Society may be contacted at 570-253-3240.

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More on-line:

Pilgrim Hall Museum

www.pilgrimhall.org

Wayne County Historical Society

www.waynehistorypa.org