New England is known for many gems, some hidden and some obvious. On the first full week of summer vacation, I decided to venture forth, find, and explore two of them. The first...? Saint-Gaudens National Park, New Hampshire's one and only.
Saint-Gaudens is amazing for two reasons. Yes, like other parks throughout America, the land is incredibly beautiful. After parking, buying my ticket for $5, and walking up a trail and through several hedges, this was one of the first sights to greet me. Such beauty and tranquility!
A verdant field lies beside the birches. This picture only captures the far end of the field, which is actually quite large. If I go back, I'll bring a blanket, a picnic and spend a considerable amount of time in this field. Concerts are also held here, I'm told, throughout the summer months.
This is what makes Saint-Gaudens a different park. Glaciers? No. Waterfalls? No. Buffalo, wolves, hiking and camping? No. Art! Art? Yes. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was a famous artist, sculptor to be exact. This park has beautiful scenery and walking trails, but it's really a showcase for art. I turned from the view of the field and saw this.
Captivated by the opened royal blue door, I wanted to capture what lay beyond it.
Natural beauty, however, beside the door couldn't be ignored.
A sense of excitement and peace at the same time. A small atrium, with various reliefs, sculptures and a pool. All of the artwork here was created by Saint-Gaudens, save a few paintings in the home done by his wife, Augusta Saint-Gaudens.
Again, the beauty of nature also abounds...
Turtles....
And, lily pads....
A view from within the door of what lies without....
A statue of David Farragut. Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead! This was Saint-Gaudens' first commissioned piece. His sculpture, so said the movie in the visitor's center and the park ranger, was unique at the time. Why? Realism and movement. The coat, being blown back by the wind.
A button left unbuttoned.... Saint-Gaudens, born to cobblers, was a natural born artist, it would seem. After saving, through his apprenticeship to a cameo maker, he went to Europe to study art. He met and wanted to marry Augusta, a young artist born to a wealthy family. Her father said she could marry only if Saint-Gaudens received a commission. This was it and led to their marriage. Given the fact that he later took a life-long mistress, who posed for his sculpture of Diana and bore him a son, I wonder if Augusta had regrets. Though, given that Augusta turned her second home into a national park to commemorate her faithless husband, it would seem she had something in common with Farragut. Once the decision was made, she sped ahead.
Turning from the Farragut, I was treated to this view.
Lincoln. The man who convinced Saint-Gaudens to move to Cornish, New Hampshire used Lincoln to lure ole Gus. Saint-Gaudens was about to sculpt Lincoln and was told Vermont and New Hampshire was the "land of Lincoln-shaped men" ... in fact, he paid a local farmer to pose for him as he worked on his Lincoln sculptures.
Saint-Gaudens was said to have waited in line, twice, to view Lincoln's body prior to his funeral and burial. He'd seen Lincoln give a campaign speech when he ran for office and greatly admired him.
In a room beside the atrium, ... General Sherman. Sherman actually agreed to sit for Saint-Gaudens, in exchange for being introduced to Robert Louis Stevenson. The lighting in the room is odd and likely doesn't do this justice. Saint-Gaudens believed this was his best work.
Practice for a famous memorial....
A memorial to the wife of one of Saint-Gaudens' friends, a descedent of President Adams. The woman, Clover, was a photographer who did "amazingly well for a woman" at the time. Sadly, though, she killed herself by drinking developing fluid. She was insanely distraught after her father's death, ending her life and enraging her husband. The ranger said her husband supposedly loved her dearly but was incredibly angry with her for committing suicide. He wanted a memorial but demanded it not mention her by name or look anything like her.
Saint-Gaudens used both male and female models, wanting the memorial to serve as a mirror of sorts. Those viewing the memorial were to "see" whatever they might feel about death.
Ahhh, .... The view. Mt. Ascutney in Vermont.
This is taken from the porch of their summer home....
A view from the porch.
A studio beside the house....
Imagine the art one could create while feasting upon these sights every day!
Poppies outside the studio....
The house, as seen from an apple tree.
The studio....
The picture of the house that most tourists snap!
A garden beside the studio and house....
Another picture of Mt. Ascutney prior to entering the studio....
Oh, my...! THE piece within the studio. Diana. A smaller version of the scultpure/weathervane that graced the top of a building in NYC. Hide the children, though. She's nekkid in the next picture. ;)
Diana....
Leaving the studio and taking one last glimpse of the view....
The Shaw Memorial. This is what Saint-Gaudens is especially known for. The original is in Boston. Shaw, the son of wealthy New England abolitionists, became the leader of African-American soldiers. Yes, think Glory.
Shaw....
Amazing. His eyes tell a thousand stories....
While Saint-Gaudens believed the sculpture of Sherman was his best work, the ranger said "everyone else" believes this is his best.
The angel, sprinkling poppy seeds, is said to represent both victory and death. By the way, Shaw was, when killed, stripped of his uniform and buried in a mass grave with his African-American troops. (Shocking and unheard of treatment for an officer. It's thought the Confederates felt particular resentment for a white officer who would lead black men into battle on Carolinian lands.) When the Union found out, people were outraged and offers were made to exhume the body and bring Shaw home.
His parents said they wouldn't have it. Their son was where he should be. Buried with his men, men he fought and died beside.
Wow! People who didn't just talk. People who actually walked.
When this memorial was unveiled, some of the surviving African-American men who fought for Shaw were present. Impromtu, they formed up, in formation, and marched away from the memorial. In the same pattern and on the same route as when they marched with Shaw to be shipped out.
Saint-Gaudens National Park, Cornish, New Hampshire ... part of what became the Cornish Art Colony.
Near Saint-Gaudens, on the Vermont side of the Connecticut River, one can visit VINS, Vermont Institute of Natural Science. The people at VINS rescue various birds throughout the state. Most are hit by cars, but some are injured in other ways. Some of the birds, sadly, can't be saved. Others are saved and released when they've healed. A few, usually due to wing injuries, are kept on the grounds and used in educational programs.
A bald eagle....
I have to say, ... I think the bald eagles I photographed in nature a few months ago had a different light in their eyes.
A golden eagle....
In addition to running educational presentations each day and showing actual birds, VINS is known for walking trails through the surrounding forest.
I must admit that I miscalculated. A forest in New England in June equates with BUGS! Very lovely and peaceful here, if not for the bugs. Still, a gem.
Copyright 2013 -> Shannon
