Nature's Studio with August Saint-Gaudens
Discover the scenic majesty of Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in New Hampsire, USA
Main House at Aspet, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park by NPS Park Cultural Landscapes ProgramNational Park Service
Sculpting with the landscape
What if the defining symbols of American identity, from monumental bronze statues to exquisite gold coins, were inspired not in a bustling urban studio, but in a quiet, sun-dappled pasture in New Hampshire?
The influential sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, played an outsized role in the drive to construct a singular American identity and public memory. His monuments placed notable American figures in the aesthetic tradition of Ancient Greece and Rome.
Seeking a summer escape in 1885 to work on his "Standing Lincoln," he rented a Cornish brick house with commanding views. He fell so deeply in love with the rural landscape that this temporary retreat became 'Aspet'—his lifelong sanctuary.
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Today, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park preserves this rare union of art and natural splendor. It is a place where monumental bronze sculptures stand in harmony with manicured hedges, framed by towering pines and distant blue peaks.
View of Mount Ascutney from the Little Studio, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park by NPS and M. ZingerNational Park Service
The muse of Mt. Ascutney
The undeniable centerpiece of this landscape is Mt. Ascutney. When Saint-Gaudens first stepped onto the porch of 'Aspet', the mountain's dramatic presence across the valley captured his imagination. This sweeping view served as a compelling environment, offering the quietude and grandeur necessary to breathe life into monumental works like the "Standing Lincoln".
Saint-Gaudens and the Arts Students League by NPSNational Park Service
The living canvas of Cornish
Saint-Gaudens' presence acted as a creative magnet in New Hampshire. Soon, a flourishing community of painters, sculptors, and writers - known as the Cornish Art Colony - gathered in these hills, drawing their inspiration from the scenic landscape.
For these urban artists, New Hampshire’s rural beauty was a collaborative canvas. They walked through wildflower meadows, sketched under hemlock boughs, and socialized in the countryside.
The contrasting greenery of the gardens and local architecture directly shaped their work; as seen in this painting, George de Forest Brush’s view of the estate beneath Mt. Ascutney leans into the vibrant juxtapositions that Saint-Gaudens inspired.
Saint-Gaudens and Assistants in Large Studio (1905) by NPSNational Park Service
The forest theater of Aspet
The natural beauty of Cornish did not just inspire solitary canvas paintings—it became an active stage. In 1905, to celebrate Saint-Gaudens' twentieth anniversary in Cornish, sixty-five colony members staged a grand outdoor play, “A Masque of ‘Ours’”. They chose an enchanting pine grove on the Aspet property as their theater.
Dressing as ancient Greek gods and goddesses, the artists paraded beneath the towering canopy of pines, transforming the New Hampshire woods into a mythical forest. Even Saint-Gaudens, battling illness, was wheeled in on a chariot to witness this spectacular union of nature and performance.
Amor Caritas by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park by N. Rose and NPSNational Park Service
The local forest itself served as the scenery, forever blending the local wilderness with classical mythology. A legacy that still lives on within the sculptures preserved in the park today.
Artist draws inspiration from park grounds, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park by NPS and N. RoseNational Park Service
Art, history, and nature seamlessly intertwine at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. Long after the Cornish Colony flourished, its fragrant gardens and monumental bronzes continue to draw visitors into a landscape of enduring inspiration.
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