Oct 25
While in Maine, we hiked through Bradbury Mountain State Park. The trails were incredibly well marked and mildly to moderately difficult depending on which legs and loops you choose to take. It was such a gorgeous, clear day – perfect for being outside which you can hopefully see from the pictures below. I had so much fun hiking in the woods that I entirely skipped the outlet shopping haven of Freeport just 6 miles away. (Like I said, it was a gorgeous day!)
Recently, I took some time to explore Southern Maine. Besides great fall foliage, hiking and lobster (which were all also part of my trip!), the state is known for its majestic lighthouses. I was able to visit a few including the beautiful one at Cape Elizabeth outside Portland. This lighthouse in particular may already be familiar to lovers of American art.
American realist painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967) may best be known for his psychological urban scenes (like Nighthawks and Chop Suey) but he also painted lovely landscapes. Over the course of nine summers between 1914 and 1929 spent in Maine, he produced numerous oil sketches and watercolors exploring the coastline and its small villages. These soft and calm images seem somewhat incongruous with what I encountered in Maine where the coastal environment was rocky, rough and stark.
Do you think this is this Montana, Arizona or in fact Rockland, Maine? – Edward Hopper, Lime Rock Quarry II, 1926, watercolor, private collection
I’m very excited to have joined a group of excellent bloggers for the monthly ArtSmart Roundtable! These folks love travel and art history as much as I do, so it’s a great fit. Each month we pick a theme to write about and for October it is architecture. Check below for links to all the other awesome ArtSmart Roundtable posts!
My travel itineraries always include visits to restored or recreated historic homes. It brings me just a little bit closer to the past when I can see a Tudor, Victorian or Art Deco building complimented by its matching contemporary decor. Many times they are more impressive on the inside than they are on the outside. There is one historic American home though with such an elegant Neoclassical design that it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, VA.
Monticello’s west portico in early April (Photo: Daydream Tourist)
Boston’s iconic Charles River skyline contains a bright, conspicuous CITGO gas sign. You might think this is just an unfortunate billboard ruining the view, but the beloved orange triangle is actually a piece of historic art now maintained by the city.
For all the masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago, sometimes it is good to wander slowly and find new favorite paintings. Here’s a few works and details that jumped out at me this summer.
Daydream Tourist 