An American Giverny (6 of 6)

"It is the ideal gallery....Greater appropriateness, beauty of proportions and refinement of taste hardly could be found....Truly an artist's gallery, built for and by and with artists."*

In 1914, 'Lyme Painters' established the Lyme Art Association with a long term goal of raising funds to build their own gallery. Miss Florence deeded a parcel of land to the association for $1 and Charles A. Platt, renowned architect of the Freer Art Gallery in Washington D.C. donated his expertise in design. On August 6, 1921 the Lyme Art Association Gallery opened its doors, thus, becoming the first art gallery built in America that was self-financed by a summer art colony.**

This classic art gallery to this day is owned and operated by the Lyme Art Association, made up of artist members and associates interested in keeping the spirit and love of art alive.

Florence Griswold's house has been preserved as a National Historic Landmark, known as the Florence Griswold Museum. Paintings still line the dining room walls and the museum, which also serves as headquarters to the Lyme Historical Society, is dedicated to providing fine art exhibitions and educational events throughout the year.

Click on Lyme Art Today for links to art organizations in the area.

Main Page | American Impressionism | Lyme Art Colony | Lyme_Art_Today

* The New York Times Book Review and Magazine, August 14, 1921.
** Jeffrey W. Andersen, The Colony at Old Lyme, Connecticut and American Impressionism (Storrs: The William Benton Museum of Art, 1980) p. 134-135.