Picture Gallery at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

The Picture Gallery at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park stands on the grounds of the former Large Studio, the first studio built by Augustus Saint-Gaudens after he decided to live in Cornish, New Hampshire, year-round in 1900. The Large Studio burned down in October 1904, resulting in the loss of all ongoing projects and many of Saint-Gaudens’ personal items. In its place, an even larger studio was built called the Studio of the Caryatids, named for two statues of Caryatids—a draped, Greek-style female figure that usually serves as a support column for a building—that stood on either side of the entrance. Saint-Gaudens sculpted the Caryatids for the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York, and apparently cast two extras for himself.

When Saint-Gaudens’ wife, Augusta, died in 1926, the house and property were opened to the public, and the Studio of the Caryatids was used as an art gallery where some of Saint-Gaudens’ larger sculptures were displayed. Unfortunately, the studio burned down in 1944, destroying everything inside. An adjacent shed and chicken coop were left untouched, and between 1946 and 1948 these buildings were remodeled and enlarged to create art galleries, with the chicken coop becoming the Picture Gallery and the shed the New Gallery. Covered walkways on either side of a courtyard between the two buildings were constructed at this time as well. Called the Atrium, the walkways now hold a number of Saint-Gaudens’ busts and bas-relief sculptures.