Inspiration Times Two

"Stonecutters," © Donald M, Leet, 2013. Click to enlarge to full screen. You have to see the incredible detail in this drawing!

M Y   C O L L E C T I O N — This AWESOME graphite/pencil drawing was recently sent to me. Well, honestly, a nicely matted print was sent to me by the artist. The original is winning awards in the art shows Don submits it to! Don first contacted me last year after I published a few ancient photographs of my family's quarry workers. Don's family diverged from our local "Leete" family eons ago, moving to Michigan so long ago they spell the family name without the final "e," and told me he'd like to do a drawing based on one of the photos. We emailed back and forth a bit, he asked about modern day Leete's Island, and what I knew about the past. Then just a few weeks ago he let me know he was done. The drawing was finding critical success and would I like to see it? This was mailed to me just a short time later and I can't wait to have it put in one of my antique frames. One of my great-great grandfathers owned the quarry, which among many famous sites furnished much of the pale pink granite for the base of the Statue of Liberty, and my great-grandfather on the other side is actually in this drawing. He was a sculptor at the quarry and is the lower right sitting with the cap and coat jauntily thrown over his shoulders.

A big "Thank You" to Don. Your work inspires me as much as that old photo inspired you. The artistic spirit goes 'round and 'round!

• The original post is here.

Ancient Family Quarry Photos

Quarry workers, dated 1877. Quarry was located at Leete's Island, CT, and was owned and run by my great-great grandfather, John Beattie, my mother's great grandfather on her father's side. I have an obituary of his brother that died a few years after John, saying they trace their lineage back to 12th century Scotland. My friend Nigel that lives in Edinburgh says there is a Beattie Castlle there, lol.

In much worse condition, but about 20 years younger, this is a photo of eagles and other decorative motifs being sculpted at the quarry. My mother's grandfather on her mother's side was a sculptor. He's at the far right, Andrea De Matteo. He came from a long line of artists and opera singers of Italian descent. He carved his own headstone and those of his three wives—he was widowed twice and had a child out of wedlock as well. Such family drama! His daughter, my grandmother, second marriage was to the grandson of the quarry owner, so I'm related to a quarry artisan and the quarry owner. Between all of the marriages and children, legal and illegitimate, there was a 48 YEAR court battle for Beattie's estate, at which time there was virtually nothing left.

These eagles, I believe, ended up in Boston's South Street train station. He also worked on sculptures for Grand Central Station in New York and several other turn-of-the century large-scale constructions.

No date on this photo, but I'm guessing it's the mid 1890s. My great-grandfather the artist is on the lower right, sitting, with the goatee. His last wife, Concetta, was a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and told my then 5-year old mother that a black cloud would hang over her her entire life! Nice woman... My mother believed her too, 'til her dying days. Probably where I get my "waiting for the other shoe to drop" mentality.