Hudson Valley HS Wrestling
Painter Jasper Francis Cropsey was a noted
Hudson River painter, along with Thomas Cole and Frederic Church. His
restored house and studio and a nearby gallery contain an important
collection of works by him.
Cropsey (1823-1900) moved to the Gothic
Revival-style villa, built in 1835 on a hill overlooking the Palisades, in
1885. He added the spacious, two-story studio with skylights and a massive
inglenook fireplace. There he continued to paint his sun-filled,
meticulously rendered landscapes - often of Hudson River scenes - until his
death. (His final painting, a portrait of his wife, still stands on his
easel.)
The house, which Cropsey dubbed "Ever Rest," has been
restored by the nonprofit Newington-Cropsey Foundation. Period wallpapers
and curtains enhance the décor, which includes furniture designed by the
artist. There is also a large selection of Cropsey's paintings, watercolors,
drawings, and prints. A small museum contains samples of his painting
implements and other personal effects.
Below the house is the
Newington-Cropsey Foundation's architecturally eclectic Gallery of Art.
Opened in 1994, its octagonal main gallery was designed to imitate Cropsey's
studio; paintings from all phases of his career - including European and
American scenes, allegories, and oil studies - are hung in the manner of a
19th-century picture gallery. Temporary exhibits of works by contemporary
artists are regularly offered in another gallery.
The Cropsey
Homestead, located at 49 Washington Avenue in Hastings-on-Hudson, is open
for tours from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Mon.-Fri. The Gallery of Art, at 25 Cropsey
Lane, is open for tours from 1-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Both house and gallery are
closed during the months of January and August. (The house is also closed
throughout December.) Free admission, but appointments are required for all
but the temporary exhibits in the Gallery. Children under age 16 not
admitted. 914-478-1372 (home); 914-478-7990 (gallery).