History of Fine Art in Norfolk, Connecticut
Norfolk, Connecticut has enjoyed a long history of attracting and inspiring many fine artists. Norfolk has also been fortunate in having generous art patrons. Ann Havemeyer, Norfolk's local historian and author is working on an essay for this website. It will feature historic photographs of some of the artists and their patrons. Please check back to see how the story unfolds.
The artist Parker Newton enjoyed painting winter scenes in Norfolk. Not much is known about this artist, although his work can be found in galleries around the country. He died in Neuilly, France in 1928. This photograph is inscribed on back: "I think this is Parker Newton who was a friend of G.C.S." The identity of G.C.S. remains a mystery as well.
An early patron of American art, Robbins Battell assembled a large collection of paintings by native artists which was hung in the music room and library of Whitehouse. The gallery was regularly opened for viewing and shared freely with the people of Norfolk. It included landscapes by Hudson River School artists Frederic Church, Thomas Cole and George Inness.
In 1898 Carl and Ellen Battell Stoeckel hosted Frederick Dielman in Norfolk. Dielman (1847-1935) was president of the National Academy of Design and a distinguished artist who designed mosaics for the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. The Stoeckels had just published Music and Poetry of Norfolk, a book of poems and songs in tribute to Ellen’s father, Robbins Battell. Dielman inscribed the book with this wonderful pencil drawing of a view of the gardens behind Whitehouse.
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The Norfolk Historical Society