Grist Milling: Preliminary Study [4] of 9, [between 1949 and 1951]

Drawing of a mill under a large tree. Labeled "Gilbert Stuart's mill" in Leighton's handwriting. Gilbert Stuart's mill was the first place she visited while searching for mills in Rhode Island, and she ended up using a weeping willow "from the birthplace of Gilbert Stuart" in the final design.

Leighton researched the designs for the plates largely via word-of-mouth, and her narrative for the Grist Milling plate (found under "Writings - Grist Milling" in this collection) reveals that she went on a "crazy search" for functioning grist mills in Rhode Island. In her narrative, she mentions visiting Gilbert Stuart's mill near Saunderstown. The final plate was a composite of the various scenes she saw in Rhode Island.

Top left and bottom right corners cut away.