GE DIGITAL CAMERA

FITZWILLIAM – Noted local author Eric Stanway has gained a reputation for the macabre, through the 35 books of local history he has penned over the last decade. On Oct. 23, however, the public will be treated to another side of his expertise, as he unveils “Faces of Horror,” a series of seven oil paintings that perfectly capture the Halloween season. The Blake House, home of the Fitzwilliam Historical Society, will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day. This event is free and open to the public, although a donation to the Historical Society is appreciated.

For those aficionados familiar with recent horror tropes such as Freddy vs. Jason, these paintings are decidedly “old school,” as the definitive Dracula, Bela Lugosi resides cheek by jowl with Barnabas Collins, the vampire portrayed by Jonathan Frid in the 1960s soap opera, “Dark Shadows.”

“I’ve always been interested in the dark side of literature,” Stanway said. “Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Bram Stoker were constant companions of my childhood.”

This is reflected in the other offerings on display. Italian terror queen Barbara Steele is portrayed in a scene from her 1960 movie, “Black Sunday,” while Lugosi is featured in his role in the 1932 “White Zombie.” Bram Stoker, the author of “Dracula,” is represented in a ghastly tableau from his story, “The Judge’s House,” while H.P. Lovecraft makes an appearance through a painting inspired by “Pickman’s Model.” There is also a portrait of the ancient Irish spirit, the Banshee, whose appearance is indicative of an imminent demise, as well as a frightening image of the Venusian creature from the 1950s science fiction classic, “It Conquered The World.”

Although the younger generation, weaned on a diet of increasingly graphic and violent horror movies, might take all this in stride, Stanway still warns against having younger children viewing his pieces.

Newsletter