Last week I took a quick trip to Connecticut to see an exhibit at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme. The show, The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism and and the Garden Movement 1887-1920 explored the relationships between American impressionist painters and the growing gardening movement here in the United States. I’d seen a smaller exhibit on similar themes at the New York Botanical Garden earlier this summer so was excited to learn about the larger exhibit at the Griswold Museum.
At the turn of the 20th century, Florence Griswold opened her home in Old Lyme to artists as a boarding house where they could spend the summers painting in the region. Over the years, painters ranging from Childe Hassam to Ellen Axson Wilson (first wife of Woodrow Wilson) stayed with Miss Florence as she was known, spending their time painting landscapes in the region. Many of the painters created their works on Griswold’s property including in her wonderful gardens.
I thought I’d share a few photos of my favorite paintings in the exhibit and of Miss Florence’s Gardens with you today.
Edward Greacen. The Old Garden
Jane Peterson. Spring Bouquet
Philip Leslie Hale. The Crimson Rambler
In Florence Griswold’s Garden © 2016 Patty Hankins
In Florence Griswold’s Garden © 2016 Patty Hankins
View of the River from Griswold Museum © 2016 Patty Hankins
In addition to the Artist’s Garden exhibit, there are also several galleries of paintings by Lyme Art Colony artists in the restored boarding house. The first floor of the house has been restored to what it was like in the early 1900s when the artists stayed with Florence Griswold, including all of the wonderful door and wall panels that artists decorated over the years.
If you are interested in either American Impressionism or gardening, I really recommend visiting the Florence Griswold Museum before the show closes on September 18. It is one of the best art exhibits I’ve seen in recent years.