“Winter At My Old Kentucky Home”  Kentucky Artist CW Vittitow

copyright 1980 Plate No XXIV Limited Edition Artist Proof

image size 21 ½”x15 ½” overall size 24 ½” x 19”  

Prints were signed before Mr. Vittiow’s Death.  Mr. Vittitow passed away in the mid 1990’s.  After his death the family sold all the remaining prints and destroyed the printing plates. 

The prints in this listing were obtained at the auction.

Information Sheet contains Artist bio, Print Care and About the Home,

“You are looking at Federal Hill, the house made famous by Stephen Foster’s song, “My Old Kentucky Home”.  Built by Judge John Rowan early in the nineteenth century, this house was the home of three generations of one of Kentucky’s most distinguished families.  Members of the Rowan Family lived on this property from 1801 until 1922, when the house and 235 acres were purchased by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  It is now a state park.

Stephen Foster, a distant cousin of the Rowans, is said to have visited them at this house and was inspired by the home and plantation to compose the song, “My Old Kentucky Home.”  Although the Rowans called the estate Federal Hill, the association with Foster’s song,- now the state song of Kentucky- has caused the place to become popularly known as My Old Kentucky Home.

The back wing of the house was built first, during the first decade of the nineteenth century, and family tradition says that the major portion of the house was completed in 1818.  IN 1840, the house was damaged by a fine of unknown origin which largely destroyed a third story and severely damaged other parts of the building.  Extensive repairs were made during 1840 and 1841 by Alexander Moore, a carpenter and builder of Bardstown.  The contract for $750 made with Moore by John Rowan is still in existence.

The house today is furnished as the Rowan family home from 1818 until 1855, when John Rowan, Jr. – the second owner- died.

Winter at My Old Kentucky Home is the third issue in the Four Seasons Series by Artist Vittitow.

Summer and Autumn were the first and second in the series with the fourth, Spring at My Old Kentucky Home, planned for release in 1981.

This series is Mr. Vittitow’s most successful one to date.”