Deerfield May 16^th 1858
Dear Augustus

I will write a few
lines to let you know how we
are at home. All are well
except Father who continues to
be quite feeble. You know he
has been sick now nearly six
weeks. I have been home little
more than a fortnight and since
I came he has been better.
I have not had a very profitable
winter; the "hard times" have
made people in Alabama afraid
to expend much money in pictures
but I have made some sketches
of negro subjects. I intend painting
them here at home this summer.
The farming goes on pretty well
they are now engaged in planting
Indian corn & Broom corn. Have

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Artist George Fuller (1822-1884) from Deerfield, Massachusetts, spent his twenties and thirties studying art while often maintaining studios in Boston and New York City. In the 1850s, Fuller spent three winters in Georgia and Alabama working as an itinerant painter. Upon returning to Deerfield from his final trip, Fuller reported to his brother, that his portraiture business in the South had slowed by 1858. This was due, in part, to an economic depression in the years just prior to the Civil War. He mentioned that in his extra time he had been making sketches of slaves and intended to spend the upcoming summer painting them. Other segments of his letter report his father's poor health. His father died the following year, after which George toured Europe for six months, before returning to Deerfield to marry and take over the family farm. He spent the remainder of his life farming and painting in his home studio, while also maintaining a studio in Boston.

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