The Artists

Henry Ward Ranger is credited with being the first painter to stop at the Griswold boardinghouse, although artists had been passing along this section of the Connecticut shoreline for decades. Those that stayed with Miss Florence in her boardinghouse became known collectively as the Lyme Art Colony or “School of Lyme.” Despite the term “school” this group of artists were primarily professional painters who lived and maintained studios in New York. Many of them had studied art at renowned art academies in Philadelphia, Boston, or elsewhere. Most of the artists also traveled to Europe to complete their studies in places that were geared towards American students such as the Académie Julian in Paris before returning to New York to begin their careers.

“From the very beginnings of the founding of the Lyme art colony ‘Miss Florence’ has ‘mothered’ the artists. Her whole soul has been thrown into the idea of making her old house an attraction for the best men – a home in the true sense where each one might feel that he owned a share of it, that the pleasure and comfort of it was his personal interest.”

~ Artist Allen B. Talcott, c. 1901

“The artist who have exhibited, are, most of them, as well known in Paris as they are in Lyme . . .”

~ Unidentified Journalist, 1903

The art colony at Old Lyme eventually included more than 200 artists and was active during the first decades of the 20th century. Many of the Lyme painters knew each other from their time in school or while traveling in Europe. It was through their friendships and word of mouth that they encouraged each other to travel to Lyme to paint. Although the artists who came early to Miss Florence’s painted in a different style than those who came later, all the painters were interested in capturing the distinctly old-fashioned American subject matter Lyme had to offer. They were a like-minded bunch, for the most part, with the common desire to paint subjects that could be found in and around the small New England village of Old Lyme. This is what brought them together to Miss Florence’s boardinghouse.

“These Lyme artists are sound, sincere craftsmen, none of them freaks or faddists.”

~ Journalist Alice Lawton in American Motorists, 1928

“Miss Florence took them all in, fed, sheltered and encouraged them and let them splash paint, talk shop and argue to their heart’s content. Small, barnlike studios cropped up in field and garden and the now long famous art colony was born.”

~ Journalist Alice Lawton in American Motorists, 1928

“This is where those who have ‘arrived’ stay – the students go to the Old Lyme Inn where a letter would reach me. Does it always rain in Ogunquit? It does in Lyme, or has done since I came. Hope you are having a fine time.”

~ C.M.P. (initials of unidentified student) on a postcard showing
the Griswold House and labeled “Holy of Holies,” Lyme, Conn.

Meet the people of the boardinghouse by clicking choices below:

• Overview
• Miss Florence
• The Artists
• Distinguished Guests
• Domestic Staff
• Female Artists
• Non-Boarding Guests