Did Maud Lewis have a baby?
Maud fell in love with Emery Gordon Allen and when he learned of her pregnancy, he abandoned her to the scandal of small-town life and to her increasing disabilities and loneliness. She gave birth to daughter, Catherine Maud Dowley in 1928 but was told it was a boy and that he was dead.22-Nov-2020
Why did Maud Lewis reject her daughter?
Catherine Dowley, that daughter, tried several times to contact her mother, but Maud Lewis rejected her. Her physical deformities brought her some early grief: classmates teased her mercilessly, which may be one reason why she dropped out of school at 14, having completed only Grade 5.
Who inherited Maud Lewis estate?
But it wasn't until both her parents died in the late 1930s that her life took a tragic turn. Her older brother, Charles, claimed the family inheritance and made no provision for his only sibling.
How much are Maud Lewis paintings worth?
It was a big day at a London, U.K., auction house for those with a passion for Nova Scotia artist Maud Lewis. After all was said and done, the gavel came down today at Woolley and Wallis on two Lewis paintings for a combined total of £62,500 or about $105,000.08-Dec-2021
Is Maud Lewis alive?
Deceased (1903–1970)Maud Lewis/Living or Deceased
Where was Maud Lewis born?
Yarmouth, CanadaMaud Lewis/Place of birth
Where is Maud Lewis house now?
the Art Gallery of Nova ScotiaShe began selling her pictures while they were still wet. Now her paintings sell for $8,500 to $20,000. Lewis' home is now on permanent view in Halifax at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Lewis' entire house — a work of art in and of itself — now has a permanent home in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.19-Jun-2017
Where did Maud Lewis live in Nova Scotia?
Maud Lewis's life was bounded by the distance between two of southwestern Nova Scotia's major towns—Digby and Yarmouth. 1 She was born in the hospital in Yarmouth on March 7, 1901, raised in the neighbouring small village of South Ohio, and lived most of her adult life closer to Digby, in the village of Marshalltown.
What happened to Maud Lewis house?
In 1984 the Province of Nova Scotia purchased the house from the Painted House Society and had the house moved to a temporary location to preserve it. ... The house was then transferred to its permanent location in the Scotiabank Maud Lewis Gallery at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax, Nova Scotia.07-Apr-2017
What happened to Everett Lewis?
After his retirement he made his own horse templates and began to paint maritime scenes and landscapes with animals and other subjects. Everett was killed when a burglar murdered him during attempted robbery at the house in 1979.
Is Maude a true story?
Listen to the Story Sally Hawkins stars in Maudie, the true story of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, who painted cheerful scenes on whatever materials she could find. Maudie is the largely true story of a Canadian painter whose work was so exuberant, you'd never guess at the difficult life she lived.19-Jun-2017
Where are the Maud Lewis paintings?
About Maud Lewis Maud's small house where she lived with her husband and worked since 1938 was restored and is on permanent exhibit at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Her artwork is held there and in the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
What paint did Maud Lewis use?
She used mostly wallboard and tubes of Tinsol, an oil-based paint. Lewis' technique consisted of first coating the board with white, then drawing an outline, and applying paint directly out of the tube. She never blended or mixed colours. Early Maud Lewis paintings from the 1940s are quite rare.
Where was Maud Lewis born?
Lewis was born Maud Kathleen Dowley on March 7, 1903 in South Ohio, Nova Scotia, the daughter of John and Agnes (Germain) Dowley. She had one brother, Charles. She was born with birth defects and ultimately developed rheumatoid arthritis, which reduced her mobility, especially in her hands. Dowley was introduced to art by her mother, who instructed ...
Who was the watchman at Poor Farm?
Everett Lewis also worked as the watchman at the county Poor Farm. According to Everett, Maud Dowley showed up at his door step in response to an advertisement he had posted in the local stores for a "live-in or keep house" for a forty-year-old bachelor. Several weeks later, they married.
What are some of the subjects that Lewis painted?
Lewis used bright colours in her paintings, and subjects were often flowers or animals, including oxen teams, horses, birds, deer, or cats. Many of her paintings are of outdoor scenes, including Cape Island boats bobbing on the water, horses pulling a sleigh, skaters, and portraits of dogs, cats, deer, birds, and cows.
Who wrote Maudie?
Thompson wrote the one-woman play about Lewis while in Nova Scotia in 2008. The play ran until October 25, 2009. Screenwriter Sherry White wrote a script for a feature dramatic film about Lewis, entitled Maudie (2016). Maudie made its Canadian debut at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
What are some interesting facts about Maud Lewis?
Fast Facts: Maud Lewis 1 Occupation: Painter and folk artist 2 Born: March 7, 1903 in South Ohio, Nova Scotia, Canada 3 Died: July 30, 1970 in Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada 4 Parents: John and Agnes Dowley 5 Spouse: Everett Lewis 6 Key Accomplishments: Despite physical limitations and poverty, Lewis became a beloved folk artist, known for her brightly colored paintings of animals, flowers, and outdoor scenes. 7 Quote : “I paint all from memory, I don’t copy much. Because I don’t go nowhere, I just make my own designs up.”
Why did Maud leave school?
Maud dealt with multiple physical disabilities that left her hunched over. At the age of fourteen, she dropped out of school for unknown reasons, although it is possible that the bullying of her classmates (due to her visible birth defects) was at least partially at fault.
What did Maud Lewis suffer from?
She had one brother, Charles, who was older than her. Even as a child, she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, which limited her movements, even down to her hands.
Where did Maud's parents live?
Her brother Charles inherited everything, and while he allowed his sister to live with him for a short while, she soon moved to Digby, Nova Scotia, to live with her aunt.
Who is Amanda Prahl?
Amanda Prahl is a playwright, lyricist, freelance writer, and university instructor. Her history and arts writing has been featured on Slate, HowlRound, and BroadwayWorld. Maud Lewis (March 7, 1903 – July 30, 1970) was a 20th-century Canadian folk artist. With a focus on subjects in nature and ordinary life and a folk style of painting, ...
Did Maud Lewis sell her paintings?
During her lifetime, Maud’s paintings did not sell for large amounts. By the late 1940s, tourists had begun to stop at the Lewises’ home to purchase her paintings, but they rarely sold for more than a few dollars. In fact, they wouldn’t sell for even close to ten dollars until the final years of her life.
Why did Maud and Catherine have to be placed up for adoption?
Because Maud had no income and no means to support her child, a court required Catherine to be placed up for adoption. Later in life, an adult Catherine (now married with a family of her own and still living in Nova Scotia) attempted to get in touch with her mother; she was never successful in her attempts.
What did Maud sell postcards for?
She was raised with a love of music and art, and her mother encouraged her to paint postcards as a child. Maud sold some of these for 5 cents while peddling them door to door. Despite her contentment at home, Maud was awkward with other children and seldom played with anyone.
How many brothers did Maud Dowley have?
She had 2 brothers who died in infancy as well as her brother Charles Knowles, almost 5 years older than her. Maud had a relationship with Emery Gordon Allen and when he learned of her pregnancy, he abandoned her. She gave birth to daughter, Catherine Maud Dowley in 1928 but was told it was a boy and that he was dead.
Who is Maud Kathleen Dowley?
Maud Kathleen. Dowley. Lewis. Celebrated Nova Scotia folk artist, Maud Kathleen Dowley was the only daughter of John Nelson Dowley and Agnes Mary Germain who were married July 3, 1897 at the Baptist Church in Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. She had 2 brothers who died in infancy as well as her brother Charles Knowles, almost 5 years older than her.
Who is Maud Dowley?
Husband Everett put Maud’s name at the bottom of the Lewis family stone under her maiden name -- Maud Dowley. Celebrated Nova Scotia folk artist , Maud Kathleen Dowley was the only daughter ...
Who was Maud Dowley married to?
Celebrated Nova Scotia folk artist, Maud Kathleen Dowley was the only daughter of John Nelson Dowley and Agnes Mary Germain who were married July 3, 1897 at the Baptist Church in Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Why was Maud Lewis' husband murdered?
Her husband would be murdered for his lockbox of savings (taken from the sales of Maud’s pictures) on New Year’s Day of 1979.
What is Maud Lewis's heart on the door about?
Maud Lewis THE HEART ON THE DOOR is the first full-length biography of Maud Lewis (1901-1970), the famous Nova Scotia folk artist. It includes detailed accounts of her disabilities, including a childhood battle with the juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which twisted her hands and joints.
How many pages are there in Maud Lewis biography?
Spencer Books of Halifax have published Lance Woolaver’s monumental 500 page biography of Maud and Everett Lewis. It is the first major and complete biography of the Nova Scotian folk artist.
Who was Everett Lewis' daughter?
The Heart on the Door concludes that Maud Lewis, born Maud Catherine Dowley in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1901, gave birth to a daughter, Catherine Dowley, in 1928, and traces the life of Maud’s daughter, later Mrs.
What is the meaning of the poem "This is a story written in heartbreak"?
Excerpts: “This is a story written in heartbreak. It is the story of a child’s wish to be accepted as a human being. It is a story of murder, poverty and treasure. It is the story of the worth of art in the struggle against pain. This is a story of broken families, of lonely lives, of a lost love and abandonment.
Who is Catherine Lewis' mother?
Catherine’s unsuccessful attempts to contact and be accepted by her mother, Maud Lewis, are documented. Catherine’s father, Emery Allen, the love of Maud ’s life, abandoned Maud to the scandal of small-town life and to her increasing disabilities and loneliness. Excerpts: “This is a story written in heartbreak.
What is the story of the lockbox treasure?
It is a story of murder and a lockbox treasure. It is the story of a man who made a woman pay for his own frailties. All must be taken together.
Where did Maud's descendants see her house?
But some of Maud's descendants are only now getting a personal look at her work. Four generations of descendants visited the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on Thursday, where they saw her little house for the first time. They say the visit was like a homecoming for their family.
Who is Maud Lewis' grand-daughter?
“The house is just, wow, I'm baffled, I'm just overwhelmed with this house,” said Marsha Benoit, the grand-daughter of Maud Lewis. Four generations of Maud Lewis's descendants visited the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on Oct. 4, 2018.
Why did Marsha's family leave Yarmouth County?
Marsha’s family left Yarmouth County for Ontario, because of her father’s work, when she was 12. She moved around a bit over the years, and recently moved to Truro to be close to her son Paul. Last October, Marsha visited the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and had a close up look at Maud’s restored home. “That was amazing and overwhelming,” she said.
What is Marsha's favorite painting?
I want to learn more about her.”. Her favourite painting is one of a white cat. Marsha said she didn’t inherit any of her grandmother’s artistic ability, although her mother had a talent for drawing. Like Maud, Marsha knows what it’s like to live with physical challenges.
How old was Marsha when her mother told her about Maud?
Marsha was 12 when her mother, Catherine Crosby, told her about Maud. “I didn’t know my mother had been adopted until then,” she said. “The people who adopted her were great and I always considered them my grandparents.”.
Where did Maud Lewis live?
Maud lived with her husband Everett Lewis in a small house in Marshalltown. Maud achieved national recognition in the mid 60’s. She died in July 1970. [email protected]. Local, trusted news matters now more than ever. And so does your support.
Who is the grandmother of the Truro woman?
Truro woman connects with her grandmother, Maud Lewis, through her art. Although she grew up not far from her, Marsha Benoit was unaware that Maud Lewis was her grandmother for many years. She never did have the chance to meet the painter, but she feels a connection when she looks at her work.
How did Maud Lewis' husband die?
She died in Digby on July 30, 1970 from pneumonia. Her husband Everett was killed in 1979 by a burglar during an attempted robbery of the couple's house. Click to see full answer. Likewise, people ask, when did Maud Lewis husband die?
Where did Maud Lewis live?
Maud lived with her husband Everett Lewis in a small house in Marshalltown. She died in July 1970. Also Know, what happened to Maud Lewis house? After she passed away in 1970, Everett following nine years later, the house lay abandoned.

Overview
Early life
Lewis was born Maud Kathleen Dowley on March 7, 1903 in South Ohio, Nova Scotia, the daughter of John and Agnes (Germain) Dowley. She had one brother, Charles. She was born with birth defects and ultimately developed rheumatoid arthritis, which reduced her mobility, especially in her hands. Lewis's father was a blacksmith and harness maker who owned a harness shop in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. His business enabled Lewis to enjoy a middle-class childhood. She was …
Marriage
Dowley married Everett Lewis, a fish peddler from Marshalltown, on January 16, 1938 at the age of 34. Everett Lewis also worked as the watchman at the county Poor Farm. According to Everett, Maud Dowley showed up at his door step in response to an advertisement he had posted in the local stores for a "live-in or keep house" for a forty-year-old bachelor. Several weeks later, they married.
Paintings
Lewis used bright colours in her paintings, and subjects were often flowers or animals, including oxen teams, horses, birds, deer, or cats. Many of her paintings are of outdoor scenes, including Cape Island boats bobbing on the water, horses pulling a sleigh, skaters, and portraits of dogs, cats, deer, birds, and cows. Her paintings were inspired by childhood memories of the landscap…
Later life and death
In the last year of her life, Maud Lewis stayed in one corner of her house, painting as often as she could while traveling back and forth to the hospital for treatment of health issues. She died in Digby on July 30, 1970 from pneumonia. Her husband Everett was killed in 1979 by a burglar during an attempted robbery of the couple's house.
Legacy
After Everett Lewis died, her painted house began to deteriorate. A group of concerned citizens from the Digby area started the Maud Lewis Painted House Society; their goal was to save this landmark. In 1984, the house was sold to the Province of Nova Scotia and transferred to the care of Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) in Halifax. The AGNS restored the house and installed it as the Maud Lewis House in the gallery, as part of a permanent Lewis exhibit.
Further reading and other media
The Art Canada Institute published Maud Lewis: Life & Work by Ray Cronin in September 2021.
Maud Lewis is the subject of a book by Lance Woolaver, The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis, and three National Film Board of Canadadocumentaries: Maud Lewis - A World Without Shadows (1976), The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis (1998), and I Can Make Art ... Like Maud Lewis (2005). The latter is a short film in which a group of Grade 6 students are inspired by Lewis' work to crea…
See also
• Nova Scotia Heritage Day
Early Life
Family and Marriage
- As a young woman, Maud became romantically involved with a man named Emery Allen, but they never married. In 1928, however, she gave birth to their daughter, Catherine. Allen abandoned Maud and their daughter, and they instead continued to live with her parents. Because Maud had no income and no means to support her child, a court required Catherine to be placed up for ado…
Painting Every Surface
- The Lewises lived mostly in poverty, but Everett did encourage his wife’s painting – especially once he realized they could make a small profit. He procured painting supplies for her, and she then accompanied him on selling trips, starting with small cards like those she had painted as a child and eventually expanding to other, larger media. She even painted nearly every suitable sur…
Early Sales
- Maud’s paintings, throughout her career, focused on scenes and items out of her own life, experiences, and surroundings. Animals appeared frequently, mostly domestic or farm animals such as cows, oxen, cats, and birds. She also portrayed outdoor scenes: boats on the water, winter sleigh or skating scenes, and similar moments of ordinary life, often with a playful and ch…
Gaining Wider Attention
- During her lifetime, Maud’s paintings did not sell for large amounts. By the late 1940s, tourists had begun to stop at the Lewises’ home to purchase her paintings, but they rarely sold for more than a few dollars. In fact, they wouldn’t sell for even close to ten dollars until the final years of her life. The Lewises continued to live a meager existence, with Everett taking on the lion’s share of wor…
Death and Legacy
- Maud’s health continued to deteriorate, and in the late 1960s, she spent most of her shuttling between painting in her home and visiting the hospital for treatment. Her declining health was exacerbated by the wood smoke of their home and the constant exposure to paint fumes without proper ventilation, and the lung issues this caused left her susceptible to pneumonia. She died o…
Sources
- Bergman, Brian. “Paying Tribute To Painter Maud Lewis.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paying-tribute-to-painter-maud-lewis/
- Stamberg, Susan. “Home Is Where The Art Is: The Unlikely Story of Folk Artist Maud Lewis.” NPR, https://www.npr.org/2017/06/19/532816482/home-is-where-the-art-is-the-unlikely-story-of-folk-artist-m...
- Bergman, Brian. “Paying Tribute To Painter Maud Lewis.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paying-tribute-to-painter-maud-lewis/
- Stamberg, Susan. “Home Is Where The Art Is: The Unlikely Story of Folk Artist Maud Lewis.” NPR, https://www.npr.org/2017/06/19/532816482/home-is-where-the-art-is-the-unlikely-story-of-folk-artist-m...
- Woolaver, Lance. The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1995.