Theodore Gegoux   (1850 - 1931)

Seen here in the Memorial Building at Champoeg, playing one of his violins, in the month of April 1921.  Photo by Mr. A. M. Prentiss © of Portland, Oregon.  In a letter to George Himes, Gegoux described Mr. Prentiss, "He is an expert".  This is high praise from a fellow photographer, especially from one with Gégoux's talent.

The center painting is known as  "The Abernethy Farm",  30 1/2 inches by 47 1/16 inches, oil on masonite board, completed in 1920.

Some of the other paintings seen here are believed to also be from the collection of the Abernethy family.  For instance, the painting known as "Yosemite Falls"  can be seen to the lower right in the photo. This painting was described as oil painted on composition board, 47 inches by 34 inches, completed in 1920 and signed.

Gegoux filed for a copyright on "The Inception of the Birth of Oregon" in January of 1920.  It is generally believed that by this time he had finished the essential work and revisions of his masterpiece.  Although Gegoux did not sign and date his masterpiece until 1923 when the frame was completed, it is clear that he considered it sufficiently complete to take up other projects.  Two such efforts were the "The Willamette River" and its sister painting "The Abernethy Farm" the seen here.

My grateful appreciation to Elisabeth Walton Potter for her help in describing these paintings and providing provenance information.