“New England” wrote Nathaniel Hawthorne, “is as large a lump of earth as my heart can readily take in.” As writers have recorded the ever-changing nature of the area and its inhabitants, so too have artists. Artful Stories reflects what it is about New England – its architecture, landscapes, townscapes, and people – that imbues the region with a unique sense of place. Painted between the 1730s and today, the artworks are arranged by topic. Land & Sea, in the first gallery, highlights the region’s geography. At Home in New England, in the second gallery, considers where and how people have lived here. New England’s People, in the third gallery, introduces an array of intriguing men and women. The Wide World, in the fourth gallery, demonstrates the ways New Englanders have experienced places and cultures elsewhere.

This website, arranged by gallery, shares what we’ve learned about the paintings and about New England as we’ve researched the collection over the past two years. Co-curators Peter Trippi, Editor-in-chief of Fine Art Connoisseur, and Nancy Carlisle, Senior Curator of Collections, Historic New England, and the Artful Stories team hope you enjoy the online version of the exhibition and welcome your feedback.

Artful Stories, featuring forty-six of Historic New England’s artworks, was on view in the exhibition galleries at the Eustis Estate in Milton, Massachusetts October 16, 2020 – October 31, 2021.

Explore by Topic

The galleries above are arranged by subject as they are in the physical museum space. However, you can also explore the web experience by the topics below.

The Conservator’s Notebook

Learning to Look

Defying Barriers

In the Studio

Generous Support for Artful Stories

Historic New England gratefully acknowledges the support of the following generous donors in presenting Artful Stories: Paintings from Historic New England.

Dr. Janina A. Longtine

Jeffrey P. Beale
The Felicia Fund
Jack Haley and Anne Rogers Haley
Robert and Elizabeth Owens
Mrs. George Putnam
Kristin and Roger Servison
Robert Bayard Severy
Angie and Bob Simonds
Edward G. Tiedemann, Jr.

We also recognize the generosity of our Appleton Circle members who helped make this exhibition possible.

© 2020 Historic New England