Art program

PUTNAM — Oct. 10 the Putnam Arts Council in partnership with the Aspinock Historical Society.  Fabiola Cutler, archivist, genealogist, as well as an historian for the Aspinock Historical Society, will present a program on artist J.J. Sawyer.  

This program is free and will be held at The Gallery on Main Street (Open Spaces).  There will be time to mingle beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation starting at 7.  Wine and cheese reception provided by the Putnam Arts Council.

James Jones Sawyer (1813-1888) is a 19th Century artist of portraits & landscapes.  He was born in 1813 in Pomfret (now part of Putnam). 

J. J. Sawyer left Pomfret to begin a career as a portrait artist in New York City.   He found a patron in Henry C. Bowen, exactly his age and also from Connecticut.  Although J.J. Sawyer exhibited in New York, he flourished upon his return to Connecticut with the support of his patron, Bowen.  He had a varied career painting portraits and scenes from nature.  Some of his paintings may be found in the Ashford Town Hall, the Woodstock Historical Society, Roseland Cottage (Pink House), Woodstock and the Smithsonian Museum.

J.J. Sawyer died in 1888 in Putnam and is buried in the Grove Street Cemetery.