New Hampshire's Cornish Colony

Book excerpt: New Hampshires Cornish Colony illustrates this distinguished American art colony. First settled in 1885 by colleagues of Americas Michelangelo, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the Cornish Colony was a retreat for sculptors, painters, writers, and musicians. They were attracted to this peaceful valley nestled in the New Hampshire hills in the shadow of Vermonts Mount Ascutney. Known as the Athens of America, the Cornish Colony was a lively, glamorous society during its heyday from 1885 to 1925. One outstanding member, the famous artist Maxfield Parrish, was called a chickadee because he spent the entire year in Cornish, not merely the summer. In New Hampshires Cornish Colony, discover a portrait of the colonists society and the fascinating people who contributed to Americas cultural legacy.