News: Clark Co. - (Painting donated to museum 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Newell, Webster, Hammond, Tuft, Marden

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (4 May 1983)

NEILLSVILLE - The Clark County Historical Society has announced that the museum, located in the former Clark County Jail on East Fifth Street in Neillsville will open Sunday for the season.

Among the additions awaiting visitors is a mannequin display of the turn-of-the-century funeral director's attire, some artifacts from the Jennie Tufts estate and a large oil painting, titled "Immortality" by Carrie B. Newell. It is a copy of a painting by Kaulbach and accentuated by a gold leaf frame.

Mrs. Newell was the mother of Mrs. H.E. Webster, Neillsville, and the late Mrs. Eva Marden. The Websters gave the painting from Mrs. Marden's estate to the museum in memory of Mrs. Newell.

Ellen Hammond, a teacher's training teacher from Neillsville, saw the original of this picture in an art gallery in Europe during the summer of 1922. History of the area says that she was so impressed by it that she had an artist there make a cop-y which was sent to her after her return home.

The canvas was damaged in shipping, so miss Hammond took it to Mrs. Newell, a local artist, who had painted for her on several occasions, to have it repaired. After the repair was done Mrs. Newell asked to keep it until she could make a copy. Permission was granted and this copy was made during the school year of 1922-23.