George Lorenzo Noyes
Encyclopedia
George “Shavey” Lorenzo Noyes (August 30, 1863 – 1945) was an American mineralogist, naturalist
, development critic
, writer and landscape artist.
where he came to embrace the solitude of the Maine wilderness, rejecting formal education and organized religion.
George Shavey Noyes was known as the thoreauvian of Maine. In the summer of 1890, while in Fryeburg, Maine, George went to the nearby White Mountain artist colony
in North Conway, New Hampshire
to pursue his interest in art and talked with some of the many artists who came there every summer. It is not known how many artists he met, but it’s on record that George spent the day and night at the home of Benjamin Champney
, the famous landscape artist.
George kept an undated journal in which he wrote his thoughts on life, God, religion, children, war, pitfalls of modern life and the spiritual beauty of nature. The writing style addressed the presence of a future reader and makes frequent use of colloquial spellings to make points. Much of his writing takes the form of allegories in which he comments on the absurdity of social norms and human folly. The 1,500-page journal was profusely illustrated with some 300 monochrome ink wash landscapes and pencil sketches, many in a chiaroscuro
style, capturing atmospheric lighting conditions. These paintings, influenced by the White Mountain art
style, were masterfully done with confident bold strokes and surprising textural details as captured only by someone who lived close to nature. His creative work expresses his lifelong optimism and belief that nature was the divine expression of God.
In the 1920’s the Erichman Print Gallery of New York city had an exhibition of a number of his paintings and sketches. Although a well-known artist, due to his particular solitary wilderness life, he never pursued art as a livelihood but as a private expression of his spiritual reverence for nature. During his life he worked as a mineral collector and operated the Noyes Mountain Quarry in Greenwood, Maine
, known today as the Harvard Quarry. Many of the finds made there are in museums, including the Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago.
George counted among his friends and associates George R. and Freeland Howe, Robert Bickford, Vivian Akers, Tim Heath, George Frederick Kunz
, and others. In 1884 George married Belle H. Smith, they suffered the death of an infant son and had one surviving child Max. It appears that before or about 1905 George and Belle were separated. With their only child, Max serving in World War I
, George by his own admission writes he is again alone and “orphaned” to the world.
After his death in 1945, his journal and paintings were discovered and remained in a private family collection until 2007 when nearly all of the paintings and much of the manuscript was auctioned off to collectors.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, development critic
Development criticism
Development criticism refers to criticisms of technological development.-Notable development critics:*Edward Abbey*John Africa*Stafford Beer *Charles A...
, writer and landscape artist.
Biography
Noyes was born in Norway, Maine, and was the son of Amos Oscar Noyes and Anna Chase Noyes. Since A. Oscar Noyes neglected the family as he was away much of the time attending to his business interests and civic commitments, George’s mother Anna had the most influence on him. As a result, young George spent extended periods with his Grandfather Chase in the western mountains of MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
where he came to embrace the solitude of the Maine wilderness, rejecting formal education and organized religion.
George Shavey Noyes was known as the thoreauvian of Maine. In the summer of 1890, while in Fryeburg, Maine, George went to the nearby White Mountain artist colony
White Mountain art
White Mountain art is the body of work created during the 19th century by over four hundred artists who painted landscape scenes of the White Mountains of New Hampshire in order to promote the region and, consequently, sell their works of art....
in North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway is a census-designated place in eastern Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census. A year-round resort area, North Conway is the largest village within the town of Conway, which is bounded on the east by the Maine state line. The White...
to pursue his interest in art and talked with some of the many artists who came there every summer. It is not known how many artists he met, but it’s on record that George spent the day and night at the home of Benjamin Champney
Benjamin Champney
Benjamin Champney was a painter whose name has become synonymous with White Mountain art of the 19th century. He began his training as a lithographer under celebrated marine artist Fitz Henry Lane at Pendleton's Lithography shop in Boston...
, the famous landscape artist.
George kept an undated journal in which he wrote his thoughts on life, God, religion, children, war, pitfalls of modern life and the spiritual beauty of nature. The writing style addressed the presence of a future reader and makes frequent use of colloquial spellings to make points. Much of his writing takes the form of allegories in which he comments on the absurdity of social norms and human folly. The 1,500-page journal was profusely illustrated with some 300 monochrome ink wash landscapes and pencil sketches, many in a chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro in art is "an Italian term which literally means 'light-dark'. In paintings the description refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and modelling of the subjects depicted"....
style, capturing atmospheric lighting conditions. These paintings, influenced by the White Mountain art
White Mountain art
White Mountain art is the body of work created during the 19th century by over four hundred artists who painted landscape scenes of the White Mountains of New Hampshire in order to promote the region and, consequently, sell their works of art....
style, were masterfully done with confident bold strokes and surprising textural details as captured only by someone who lived close to nature. His creative work expresses his lifelong optimism and belief that nature was the divine expression of God.
In the 1920’s the Erichman Print Gallery of New York city had an exhibition of a number of his paintings and sketches. Although a well-known artist, due to his particular solitary wilderness life, he never pursued art as a livelihood but as a private expression of his spiritual reverence for nature. During his life he worked as a mineral collector and operated the Noyes Mountain Quarry in Greenwood, Maine
Greenwood, Maine
Greenwood is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 802 at the 2000 census. The town was named for surveyor Alexander Greenwood...
, known today as the Harvard Quarry. Many of the finds made there are in museums, including the Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
Chicago.
George counted among his friends and associates George R. and Freeland Howe, Robert Bickford, Vivian Akers, Tim Heath, George Frederick Kunz
George Frederick Kunz
George Frederick Kunz was an American mineralogist and mineral collector.- Overview :Kunz was born in New York City, USA, and began an interest in minerals at a very young age. By his teens, he had amassed a collection of over four thousand items, which he sold for four hundred dollars to the...
, and others. In 1884 George married Belle H. Smith, they suffered the death of an infant son and had one surviving child Max. It appears that before or about 1905 George and Belle were separated. With their only child, Max serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, George by his own admission writes he is again alone and “orphaned” to the world.
After his death in 1945, his journal and paintings were discovered and remained in a private family collection until 2007 when nearly all of the paintings and much of the manuscript was auctioned off to collectors.
Sources
- History of Mining in Oxford County, Maine Vol. 2 (2000) by Van King
- Norway Maine Historical Society
- George L. Noyes 1863-1945 Vol. 1 (1989) by Bruce B. Richards
- Maine's Treasure Chest (1987) by Jane Perham
- American Boy (1904) by Vivian Akers
- www.geocities.com/mainemininghistory/index by Van King
- Pegmatite to Perhamite
- Noyes Family History
- photo of Noyes
See also
- Simple livingSimple livingSimple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want...