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RETRACING STEFSContinued from page 4binson, Mary Cassatt, John Henry Twachtman, J. Alden Weir and Willard Metcalf (withthe exception of the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, which is a member because of its collection of French Impressionism, including paintings by Manet, Monet and Degas). Three members of the Art Trail are historic sites: the Bush-Holley House in Cos Cob, the Florence Griswold House in Old Lyme and Weir Farm in Branchville. Six other members of the Art Trail are museums: Bruce Museum, Lyman Allyn Museum of Art, New Brit ain Museum of American Art, Yale University Art Gallery, Wil liam Benton Museum of Art and the Wadsworth Atheneum, all which have importantworks bv the Connecticut Im-0pressionists. The Hartford Steamboiler Company is a member by virtue of the factthat it has substantial collection of American Impression ism in its offices, which is available for viewing by appointment.Weir Farm in BranchvilleJ. Alden Weir (1852-1919), one of the foremost painters of his day and one of the earliest American Impressionists, was among the first to discover the beauty of this state’s rolling countryside. According to J. Alden Weir, A Place of His Own,Weir came from New York City in 1882 to visit Windham, home of his future wife. That summer Erwin Davis, a NewYork collector for whom Weirhad bought Old Masters and Manets, gave Weir a 153-acre farm in Branchville for the sum of $10. The farm, later expanded to 238 acres, is at the foot of the Danbury Hills. Though the terrain was rocky, Weir thought the countryside beautiful and liked having a retreat from the city.Every summer for the next 37 years, Weir painted in Connecticut. He also farmed, hunted and fished, and entertained his family and friends, making a life for himself and his family that artist John Singer Sargent said was the finest he had ever seen. Among his frequent visitors were John Henry Twachtman, Childe Has-sam, Albert Pinkham Ryder and Sargent.After Weir’s death, some of the farm was split off, but much was saved and the creative tradition carried on by Weir’s daughters Dorothy and Cora, his son-in-law sculptor Mahonri Mackintosh Young and present painters Sperry and Doris Andrews. Sixty two acres of the original pond, fields, woodlands, gardens, houses, studios and outbuildings have been kept. Abutting town of R idgefield open space as well as the Nature Conservancy’s 100-acre Weir Preserve, over 178 contiguous acres are protected. In 1990, Weir Farm became Connecticut’s only national park andJ. Alden Weir, one of America’s foremost painters, owned a farm in Branchville where he painted for 37 summers. The art tradition at Weir Farm continued with his son-in-law, sculptorMahonri Young (descendant of Brigham Young) and present artists Sperryand Doris Andrews. WeirFarm is Connecticut’s first and only national park and the only one dedicatedto a painter.Photo courtesy of Weir FarmEuropean Antique and Custom Crafted Country Pine FurnitureMirrors, lamps, prints, pottery,PILLOWS AND THROWSSilk Dried Flower ArrangementsAt Beacon Hill Route 7, 346 Ethan Allen Hwy • Ridgefield, CT(203) 438-253511 Miles North of Merritt Parkway6 Miles South of 1-84JlcwdlcAjaljtexi ^eak Qu/uutusieas featured in Architectural DigestTeak and Rattan ChaiseAlso Garden Lamps Chairs, Chests, Mirrors,% Baskets Folding ScreensH-iscmsAcroee the WorldAntiques, Furniture, Decorative TreasuresI Rivmide Avenue • Wedlpexl CT 227-8432Continued on next pageWhat is.-1 treasure tnne of American Iintagefurniture! Specializing in furnituremanufactured in America between 1880 and 1950, theWarehouse has carved a very special niche in Fairfield County W ith 25,000 square feet of space devoted to selling and refinish ing furniture, this wonderful find has something for everyone.Because of the large inventory, there is usually a good selection of everything. And if you are in the market for dining room or bedroom furniture, you will find an especially large variety of pieces and styles to choose from Kind a comprehensive selection of traditional mahogany furniture with classic styling, as well as golden oak. Empire, Victorian walnut. Deco, Arts Crafts and Mission.And be sure to visit the busy refinishing annex which is open to the public 6 davs a week. A staff of I-4 skilled craftsmanwis always hard at work refinishing furniture for sale.The Warehouse is a must set1 for anvone0furnishing a home or^ust plain interested in great old stuff.Y)
Newspaper Details
New Canaan Lifestyles
New Canaan, Connecticut, US
Thu, Jun 01, 1995
Page 37
Full Page
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Akron S.
OH, USA 20 Jul 2018
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New Canaan Lifestyles
