Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 92 Hawthorne Street, Stockbridge, Massachusetts 159 West Street, Lenox, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 46 acres (19 ha) |
| Built | 1930 (studio) 1941 (house) |
| Architectural style | Bauhaus |
| Website | www.frelinghuysen.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000304 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 2016 |
The Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio is a unique historic house museum in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was once the home and art studio of two important American artists, George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen. They were part of a group called American Abstract Artists.
The studio was built in 1930 by Morris and his friend George Sanderson. It has a cool, modern style called Bauhaus. Later, in 1941, the house was added. It was designed by John Butler Swann. Both the house and studio were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Today, the house looks almost exactly as it did when George and Suzy lived there. You can see their furniture and decorations. The art collection is amazing! It includes their own cubist paintings and frescoes. You can also find works by famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Georges Braque, Joan Miró, and Henri Matisse.
A Home for Modern Art
The land where the house stands was once a large farm. In 1885, it became a country estate called Brookhurst. A wealthy man from New York City, William Bainbridge Shattuck, owned it. He hired a famous architect named James Renwick Jr.. Renwick also designed the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C..
Sadly, the main house burned down in 1908. Only some smaller buildings designed by Renwick were left. Later, Newbold Morris bought the estate. He hired new architects to build a grand mansion. One of the older buildings was turned into a guesthouse by Suzy Frelinghuysen and George Morris.
The Studio and House Take Shape
After Helen Morris passed away in 1956, the estate was split up. George Morris inherited the western part. He worked with his college friend, George Sanderson, to design a very modern art studio. It was finished in 1930. The studio was inspired by the groundbreaking ideas of Le Corbusier, a famous architect. This studio is one of the oldest modern-style buildings in Massachusetts.
The main house was built in 1941, after George Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen got married. It was designed to go along with the studio. The house is a great example of early Mid-Century Modern architecture. George Morris died in 1975, and Suzy Frelinghuysen passed away in 1988. After her death, a special group was created. Their goal was to keep the property safe and open it as a museum for everyone to enjoy.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
- Historic Artists' Homes and Studios
