Rockwell Kent Cottage and Studio facts for kids

The Rockwell Kent Cottage and Studio are two historic buildings. They are found on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine, USA. These buildings are special because they belonged to the famous artist Rockwell Kent. He built them in 1906 and 1910.

These buildings help us remember Rockwell Kent's time on the island. Later, another artist named James E. Fitzgerald owned them. Today, they are a museum that shows Fitzgerald's art. The buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means they are important historical places.

What the Buildings Look Like

The Rockwell Kent Cottage and Studio are on the north side of Horn Hill Road. They look out over the village on Monhegan Island.

The Cottage

The cottage is a small, one-story house. It is made of wood and has a roof that slopes down on two sides. The outside walls are covered with wooden shingles. Small parts of the house stick out on each side. The front of the house faces south. It has three sections, and the front door is on the right side. The door has narrow windows next to it.

The Studio

The studio is about 800 feet (240 meters) away from the cottage. You get there by following a winding path. It is a bit bigger than the cottage and also has one story. The main part of the studio has a special roof shape. Lower sections extend from its narrow ends. The cottage looks like a typical old house. However, the studio has some unique features. It has a porch-like entrance tucked under a sloped roof. A wall on the north side has a large window. This window lets in lots of light for the art studio space.

History of the Buildings

Rockwell Kent designed four buildings during his time on Monhegan Island. The cottage was built in 1906. Kent himself watched over its design and building. He had studied architecture and design, so he knew a lot about building. He also built a similar cottage for a neighbor. He even built a small house for his mother.

In 1910, Kent built the studio. He planned to use it to run an art school. He worked with his friend, Julius Golz, on this project. Kent painted some of his most famous artworks here. These include Toilers of the Sea, Winter-Monhegan Island, and Down to the Sea.

Kent left the island in 1910. He sold the cottage, and his cousin, Alice Kent Stoddard, rented it. She was also an artist. In 1948, Alice Kent Stoddard bought another house. Rockwell Kent then bought his cottage back from Alice. He spent several more years living on the island.

In 1952, James E. Fitzgerald bought the studio. Six years later, he bought the house too. When Fitzgerald passed away in 1971, his buildings and artwork went to Edgar and Anne Hubert. They were his friends and supporters. After Anne Hubert passed away in 2004, Fitzgerald's estate went to the Monhegan Museum and Library. This included the buildings.

Visiting the Museum

During the summer, the historic house museum is open to visitors. You can see the artworks of James E. Fitzgerald there. It is open for a limited time each day. In 2007, a special meeting was held. This was to celebrate 100 years since the building was constructed. A magazine called The Kent Collector planned to share papers from this meeting. This magazine is made by the Rockwell Kent Archives at the SUNY Plattsburgh Art Museum.

Other Interesting Places

• Kent Cottage, Brigus, Newfoundland
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Maine