Mourning the death of Hudson Talbott, distinguished citizen, beloved writer, talented artist, and devoted member of his community

Senate Resolution No. 2285

BY: Senator HINCHEY

        MOURNING    the    death    of   Hudson   Talbott,
        distinguished  citizen,  beloved  writer,   talented
        artist, and devoted member of his community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of  New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life  in  their  communities  and  this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  Hudson  Talbott  of  Catskill, New York, died on Thursday,
January 22, 2026, at the age of 76; and

  WHEREAS, Born on July 11,  1949,  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  Hudson
Talbott  was  the youngest of four children and was raised by his loving
parents, Peyton Talbott, a bank manager, and Mildred  Pence  Talbott,  a
dress shop manager; and

  WHEREAS, Early in his life, Hudson Talbott developed a love for art,
and  his  parents  fostered  and  encouraged  this  passion and creative
expression, developing in him a  belief  that  he  had  a  vision  worth
sharing with the world; and

  WHEREAS,  Hudson Talbott graduated from Waggener High School in 1967
and attended the University of Cincinnati from 1967 to 1969; he went  on
to  study  painting and sculpture at Temple University's Tyler School of
Art, and spent a year studying at their campus in Rome,  Italy,  earning
his B.F.A. in 1971; and

  WHEREAS,   After   earning  his  degree,  Hudson  Talbott  continued
developing his artistic skills and arts  education  abroad,  living  and
working  in  Rome,  Amsterdam, and Hong Kong before settling in New York
City in 1974; and

  WHEREAS, Hudson Talbott worked as a freelance artist and designer in
New  York  City,  creating  notecards  and  calendars   and   completing
commissions  for  projects from renowned New York cultural institutions,
such as the Metropolitan Museum of  Art,  the  Metropolitan  Opera,  the
Museum of Modern Art, and Bloomingdale's; and

  WHEREAS,  In 1986, Hudson Talbott illustrated a 16-page picture book
for the Museum of Modern Art entitled How to Show Grown-ups the  Museum,
which became his first work created for children; and

  WHEREAS,  Illustrations  and  works of art created by Hudson Talbott
began to gain significant attention and were shown at respected exhibits
including the New York Public Library and the Louvre in  Paris,  earning
him the attention of editors at publishing companies; and

  WHEREAS,  In 1987, Crown Children's Books published Hudson Talbott's
first children's picture book, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story, featuring
dinosaurs that traveled  to  20th-century  New  York  City;  this  debut
picture  book  received  critical acclaim and was adapted as an animated
feature film by Steven Spielberg in 1993; and


  WHEREAS,  Throughout  his career as a children's picture book author
and illustrator, Hudson Talbott was able to integrate his broad range of
personal interestsand passions into his work, publishing  books  related
to the Hudson Valley, Arthurian legend, stories of resistance during the
Holocaust, travel, history, animals, and dinosaurs; and

  WHEREAS,   Hudson   Talbott's   work   was  visually  appealing  and
sophisticated, yet also highly accessible to  his  young  audience;  his
artwork  was  lush and described as similar to 18th-century French work,
and he drew inspiration from the Renaissance and the Hudson River School
of Painters; and

  WHEREAS, In recognition of  his  work,  skill,  and  impact,  Hudson
Talbott  received  a 2006 Newbury Honor for his illustration of the book
Show Way, and he earned a 2022 Schneider Family Honor for A Walk in  the
Words,  a  children's  picture  book  adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim
musical Into the Woods; and

  WHEREAS, Outside of his  career,  Hudson  Talbott  was  a  long-time
resident  of  Catskill  and  was  a  devoted  community leader; he was a
founding trustee of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in  Catskill,
which preserved the history of Thomas Cole, an influential artist of the
Hudson River School of Painters art movement; and

  WHEREAS, After more than 20 years of service, Hudson Talbott was the
longest-serving  member  of  the  Board  of Directors of the Thomas Cole
National Historic Site and introduced the artists  of  tomorrow  to  the
works  of  Thomas  Cole with his book Picturing America: Thomas Cole and
the Birth of American Art; and

  WHEREAS, Those who had the pleasure of working closely  with  Hudson
Talbott  have  shared that his artistic vision helped them see the world
differently, and all who knew him will  miss  his  endless  imagination,
uplifting spirit, and unwavering commitment to inspiring others; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Hudson Talbott leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting  memory  to  all  he
served  and  befriended;  his  books  and  art  will continue to inspire
countless generations to come; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
celebrate  the life and mourn the death of Hudson Talbott, distinguished
citizen, beloved writer, talented artist, and dedicated  member  of  his
community; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Hudson Talbott.