Venture to Hill-Stead

As I pulled in the driveway to the Hill-Stead, I was in complete amazement at the sheer magnitude and beauty of this house. I couldn’t believe how big and how many buildings this place had and the property that the home sat on, just gorgeous. I can’t explain in words how I was already in love with the place before I even stepped inside. The thing that surprised me the most was that this beautiful location with this large home full of wonderful artwork is a place that I had never heard anyone ever mention. After being there I just couldn’t believe that anyone who knew about this spot would keep it a secret. It was just wonderful.
My father was nice enough to come along with me again. We scurried inside through the rain into a visitor center with a video room and gift shop (my outside pictures were taken a different day with my boss – we weren’t able to tour when we went so I had to go back). We watched part of the video on the history of the home and were then called in for the house tour. I was told that photos would not be allowed whatsoever inside, disappointing but I had no choice but to comply. The security around this facility was definitely present; we were even escorted from the carriage house into the main house by a security guard. And I can’t blame them, the whole place is so awesome and unique you wouldn’t want to risk something happening to the house or its possessions. We then began our guided tour with a very nice tour guide. She did a good job, not too pushy and gave us good information and the time we needed to just take it all in. I could go on and on about how extraordinary everything was; however, I won’t – words wouldn’t do the place justice. Let’s just say it is worth a visit.
The Hill-Stead actually sits on a hill, thus its name Hill-Stead. Our guide tells us that on a clear day you can see the Litchfield hills through the window upstairs. The Hill-Stead was owned and occupied by the Pope family until 1946 when it was established as a museum. Alfred and Ada Pope lived in the home from the time it was built until they both passed away and was then inhabited by their only child, Theodate. Now Alfred and Ada were wealthy people coming from Cleveland where Alfred was the president of National Malleable Castings Company and had quite an accumulation of money. Their only daughter, Theodate, grew to be an independent woman who yearned to be an architect. After high school in Cleveland, Ohio, Theodate attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington. Shortly after that, she purchased an 18th century saltbox that she named “O’Rourkery in Farmington,CT. Alfred then purchased 250 acres nearby to build a retirement home that Theodate worked on designing with a New York architectural firm called McKim, Mead, & White. The Hill-Stead began construction in 1899 and was complete by 1901 when they moved in. Alfred Pope was one of the earliest American collectors of impressionist paintings and also collected other fine works of art as well. He housed all of his collections throughout the rooms of the Hill-Stead. This is Theodate here.
As we entered into the first room, the dining room, I just couldn’t believe it. The room was large enough to seat 30+ guests. What I found very interesting was that the home is furnished with the same furniture, carpets, curtains, etc. that the Pope family had. No one else has ever lived in the home so you really got the feel of being back in the early 1900s when you walked through the rooms. I just loved it!
There were many interesting paintings hanging throughout the house done by some well-known artists like Monet, Manet, Whistler, Cassatt, and more. The one artist that I paid special attention to was Mary Cassatt. I thought her artwork interesting and being a female artist I found her work to be a bit different having a feminine touch. It wasn’t common during her lifetime for women to become recognized artists.
This is her piece here called Sara Handing a Toy to the Baby, c. 1901.
This painting was hanging on the wall upstairs in one of the bedrooms.

Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 to a family of wealth. She and her parents moved to Paris when Cassatt was seven and then returned to the states a few years later. Cassatt was so moved and intrigued by the artwork that she was exposed to in Paris that she begged her parents to let her go back so that she could pursue a career as an artist. Eventually she returned to Paris where she spent a good deal of her life. Because of the time period, woman weren’t highly recognized for careers such as a doctor or here as an artist so Cassatt had a more difficult time being recognized in the manner her peers were. She was fond of painting images of family, mainly mother and children and faced criticism because of it. The reason being because she was a female and because others interpreted some of her work as inappropriate. This painting, called Portrait of a Little Girl, is supposed to capture the child after a time of play when she is exhausted and not caring about her composure. Cassatt portrayed children in their real being which was not highly accepted by others who thought she was representing the child in a sexual way. She painted children how they really are, not how adults thought they should be. Children can be less concerned about pose and manners. Cassatt was closely aligned with a famous French artist, Edgar Degas, who was famous for his paintings and was considered one of the founders of impressionism. Degas did not like the term impressionist and preferred to be considered a realist.

The Pope’s had originally acquired six works by Cassatt but only two remain in the home now. The painting above, Sara Handing a Toy to the Baby and this one, Gathering Fruit or The Kitchen Garden c. 1893 are the two that you will find there today. The guide told us that Mary Cassatt and Theodate Pope were friends, although I can not find any information to substantiate that, the guide assured us that the two spent time together at the home. If that is indeed true, it is really neat that both have ties to the home, Theodate designing it and Cassatt having artwork there.
When Theodate Pope died in 1946 her Will indicated that the home was to become the Hill-Stead Museum. Since that time the Hill-Stead has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and has been accredited by the American Association of Museums. I really enjoyed my visit. It was a museum experience to remember. I will be going back with my mother in the summertime to tour through the several acres of gardens they have there as well.

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/C/cassatt.html
http://www.hillstead.org/

The Transcendental Landscapes of Christopher Pearse Cranch at Lyman Allyn

When I had announced to my father that I will be taking a museum experience class he suggested that I visit the Lyman Allyn Art Museum which is located in New London, CT. The museum was founded back in 1932 by Harriet Upson Allyn in memory of her father, Lyman Allyn. I regret to say that when he mentioned the museum to me, I knew nothing of it let alone never had heard of the place. Well, to my surprise, it was another exciting museum experience and I was happy to have gone. Again, I have this love for buildings, so you can imagine how I appreciated the outside as much as the inside. The front of the building was amazing, as I walked up the steps between the tall columns I felt as though I was entering into a state or government building by the design. As I read the banners hanging between the columns, I am reminded that the current exhibition is of Christopher Cranch and his work.
As my husband and I walked inside were greeted by a delightful woman who seemed extremely excited to be there. It’s always nice when you encounter a person who really enjoys what they do for work. Unfortunately, she told me that I would not be allowed to take any pictures inside of the building. I was disappointed but complied. I know most of you won’t be visiting this location so I wanted to share what I saw inside. Oh well, words will have to do for this visit! As we ventured up the stairs to the second floor to see the exhibition of Christopher Cranch I was in awe of the granite like stairway. The stairs were wide and beautiful, the type you would like to walk down when you are all dressed up for a fancy event, like a prom or wedding. There were many galleries upstairs; most of them included the work of Cranch. As I read the caption about Cranch and his work I learn that he seemed to be a very interesting person who had many talents. His art work was mainly paintings of landscapes and there is a bit of a different reason for it than some other painters may have for painting the countryside.
Christopher Pearse Cranch was born in the District of Columbia in 1813. He attended Columbian College and Harvard Divinity School. Cranch is not only remembered as an artist but also as a preacher, essayist, editor, writer of child fiction, poet, linguist, musician, and a caricaturist. It is amazing to me that one person could be remembered for so many things; maybe that is why he isn’t highly remembered for any one thing. You will find the most information about him is on his poetry.
Although he isn’t as well known of an artist his work had a primary reason which was to unite with God. Though that may sound a little confusing, Cranch was actually part of a movement called Transcendentalism. That is why the exhibition was called “The Transcendental Landscapes of Christopher Pearse Cranch.” As I am first walking through the exhibition I was really wondering just what is transcendentalism? It appears that there are many definitions that can be found about what it means exactly. The best way that I can explain it is that it is a group of ideas that suggest a spiritual state can’t be achieved through organized religion but through a direct connection with God by way of nature. You may think that Transcendentalism sounds like a religion but it doesn’t appear to be recognized as that. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a key driver in organizing and starting the movement. Emerson is remembered as a poet, essayist, and philosopher. Transcendentalism became more prevalent after publications Emerson made regarding the cultural movement.
Cranch really found harmony in Transcendentalism which caused controversy with his original position as a pastor. Because the movement doesn’t believe in any formalized religion, Cranch resigned from the church and dove further into his other interests trying to directly connect with God. The earth became Cranch’s pulpit and his landscape paintings were his form of religious expression.
As painting was his preferred method, Cranch also used caricatures to describe his transcendal concepts. This caricature is quite interesting. It gave me the creeps as I was looking at this sketch in Cranch’s scrapbook. It is ink on paper done around 1839 and isn’t that big, 9 3/4 x 7 5/8. This caricature is of Emerson as a large eyeball on top of a set of skinny legs. You can see why I felt creepy looking at it! It is certainly different than most things I see! Although Cranch isn’t widely known, those that know him remember him for this sketch and how could you forget it. I will never fail to remember this piece!
Cranch faced controversy as not everyone agreed with the transcendental ideas but nonetheless he seems to have been an interesting man with an extensive list of hobbies/talents. He spent his later years residing in Cambridge, MA after traveling abroad and died in 1892.
I was happy to have been able to tour the works of Cranch and tour the Lyman Allyn museum; yet another experience that I will not forget and more knowledge that I am happy to have gained.
www.age-of-the-sage.org
www.lymanallyn.org

More on Metcalf...

After my tour through the Florence Griswold museum where I deeply admired the work of Willard Metcalf I found that not only did he spend summers at the Griswold home he spent several years traveling through Europe.

This here is a self portrait of Metcalf which is owned by the Florence Griswold Museum.

Metcalf was born in 1858 in Lowell Massachusetts. He was an avid art enthusiast early on and was a student at Massachusetts Normal Art School and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Metcalf’s early art work was mainly figure painting but by the end of his career his art work had transitioned to landscape paintings. Metcalf traveled to many locations including: Paris, Europe, Giverny, Algeria, and later on to Cuba. He was one of the first American artists to visit Giverny, which was a renowned French village where Claude Monet lived and worked.
This painting was done by Metcalf while in Giverny in 1887.
The Florence Griswold Museum contains the largest collection of Metcalf’s work, with objects including oils paintings, pastels, sketchbooks, and his diary, among other things.
Metcalf produced many of his most important and highly recognized pieces of art while staying at the Griswold home.
He is remembered as remarkable impressionist and landscape painter, winning national recognition for his art that was created in Old Lyme.

This painting, May Night, 1906, is the view of the Griswold home on one May night. May Night was awarded a gold medal and the Clark prize among a couple other paintings Metcalf did while residing at the Griswold estate.

It is really remarkable that such highly recognized art was made right here in our state of Connecticut.

work cited:

www.flogris.org

http://www.outdoorpainting.com/History/Willard-Metcalf.php

Connecticut Masters. Hartford, CT: Hartford Steam Boiler, 1991. 110-115.