Artful Stories: Paintings from Historic New England

"Artful Stories: Paintings from Historic New England” opens October 17 at the Eustis Estate

Historic New England presents Artful Stories at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts. For the first time ever, more than forty of the best works of art from its collection will be on display together.

The exhibition is a fresh look at the regional stories told through art—stories about the people who sat for portraits, the artists, the owners, and the places. It offers audiences a chance to see exquisite works of art made in or about New England spanning more than 200 years and to develop a deeper understanding of New England’s artistic legacy.

Artful Stories is organized around several themes, including "New England’s People," "At Home in New England," "Land and Sea," and the "Wide World."

Portraits range from a lovely Gilbert Stuart painting of the pioneering educator Clementina Beach to an upholsterer at work to Richard Haynes’s 2018 interpretation of Cyrus Bruce, an African American who worked as a servant for New Hampshire Governor John Langdon. There are a number of domestic interiors including two paintings done by unknown artists and an affectionate rendition by Ella Emory of the parlor in the Cushing family’s ancestral home in Hingham. One of New England’s iconic landmarks, Mount Chocorua in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is in the exhibition, as is the work of Edward Mitchell Bannister, one of very few African American painters to win recognition in the nineteenth century. New Englanders’ love of Venice is reflected in a painting of a canal complete with gondolas and a much earlier depiction of the Piazza San Marco. These and others are among the best paintings in Historic New England’s collection.

In addition to traditionally mounted artwork, there are kiosks in the exhibition galleries to let you explore more. Artful Stories is on display Saturdays and Sundays, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are available at HistoricNewEngland.org/EustisEstate. The experience is self-guided with capacity restrictions at just thirty-five visitors each hour. Timed-entry tickets must be purchased in advance.

Historic New England is following all state, local, and CDC safety guidelines and has integrated safety measures into the opening plans. Face coverings and social distancing are required for all staff and visitors. Hand sanitizer is available. Enhanced cleaning and disinfectant measures are in place.

Sesh by The Boston Calendar | Advertise Terms | Privacy Policy | About