Whether you are intimately familiar with the works of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907) or have barely heard of him, there are at least five reasons to visit the site of his former home, now the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, in nearby Cornish, New Hampshire.
The park itself. National parks come in all sizes. This one is comprised of a few hundred acres, but the main area for visitors is a smaller expanse of exquisite grounds and gardens. Scheduled tours are available of Aspet, Saint-Gaudens’ home (photo, above) for many years until his death in 1907. (He is buried on the grounds). The nearby Little Studio is where he worked. Saint-Gaudens is one of the most prominent American sculptors (though born in Dublin) and was a founding member of the historic arts-centered Cornish Colony.
The sculpture, of course. Many of Saint-Gaudens’ works dot the park outdoors and in. The Louvre in Paris has a famously minimalist, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, tour comprised of its three most iconic pieces: the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo. In the same vein, my (mere to be sure) suggestions for the top three here? The famous Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth Regiment, the Standing Lincoln, and one of the most moving and for me, an all-time favorite, a recast of the Adams Memorial, sometimes called Grief. (detail, below). Let me add one more—Amor Caritas (see here.)
Adams Memorial (detail) https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=saint+Gaudens+Adams+memorial&title=Special%3AMediaSearch&type=image Concerts: On Sundays at 2:00 pm throughout the summer at the Little Studio, beginning July 12. Bring a picnic. There are classical works but over the years the offerings have become more diverse. The 2006 line-up opens with the music of Blind Tom, Blind Boone and other early African-American pioneers; the remainder of the season includes, among others, some vintage jazz, brass, Big Band, and a Mexican fiddling trio. Free with admission. For additional information and schedule, click here.
The Villalobos Brothers performing at the park in 2025. NPS/M. Zingler The sculptor herself. Saint-Gaudens has the oldest continual artist residency program in the National Park Service. Every year features a sculptor-in-residence. This year the selected sculptor is Heidi Mortensen. She’ll be working, creating on site. Visitors can drop by to see her at the Ravine Studio in the Park. The public is also invited to register for a number of sculpting workshops to begin on June 27 and 28.
The art exhibition. You might be surprised to learn that the Saint-Gaudens Memorial awards a fellowship (annually since 1978) to an emerging artist practicing primarily in the United States. The recipient of a given year has an exhibition of their work at the Park’s Picture Gallery during the following summer. Last year’s awardee/this year’s exhibitor is artist Leslie Lyman. Her exhibition, The Work Beneath the Work, eschews the atomistic view of art and artist and asks the question of who helped Saint-Gaudens in his work and success? Lyman focuses on the unsung contributions of Augusta (Gussie) Saint-Gaudens, the sculptor’s wife. (Stay tuned. I have yet to see it but plan to.)
Admission fee to the Park is $10 per individual over 16 years of age, but take a moment to click here for the Fees and Passes explanations. If you hold a National Parks pass, you can use that in lieu of the $10 fee. Also, there are reduced fees for others, including seniors, and the ability to purchase lifetime passes. Debit or credit card only, no cash. Finally, local libraries often offer free passes to various museums. Can’t hurt to check there first.
Fun fact: Louis Saint-Gaudens, Augustus’s brother, was also an accomplished sculptor who often assisted his brother in some of his famous creations. Louis’ most iconic work is the public Twin Lions Monument to two Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry regiments which fought in the Civil War. The lions are located in the foyer of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. They are majestic in appearance and being deliberately rougher-hewn, very tactile works of art. (Click here.) His remains are interred alongside those of his brother at the Park in Cornish.
(Photo, top, Aspet, public domain)
—-————————————————
On a different note: Thespians at work. From our friends at Hanover High School Footlighters:
“This Saturday June 6 at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm and Sunday 6/7 at 2:00 pm, join Hanover High School Footlighters for the world premiere of six student-written, -directed, -acted, and -designed ten minute plays at Lyman Point Park in White River Junction. For the past year, Upper Valley students have been working to share their voices: drafting scripts, designing costumes, composing original music, learning to direct, finding props, memorizing lines. And now the work is ready for the world. It will be funny, thought-provoking, and full of creative energy and collaboration. Don’t miss it! Buy your tickets at footlighters.ludus.com.”
—-———————————————
Thank you! You’re reading Artful, a blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley, and I hope you’ll subscribe (still free) and then share this post with your friends and on your social media. We now have over 3250 subscribers.
The Hopkins Center for the Arts helps support Artful and joins Artful in celebrating those who love, make and share the art in our community. View the Hop’s 25/26 season.
And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, Next Avenue, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.