Discover the lavish art legacies of historic Newport, Rhode Island.
From the master craftsmanship of early American cabinetmakers to the fine art acquisitions of the Gilded Age elite, Newport, Rhode Island, showcases America’s elegant cultural heritage. Join art historian and museum educator Alice W. Iglehart for an exploration of Newport’s historic structures, special collections, and contemporary exhibitions.
Explore the shifting tastes of the 19th-century industrial elite through the lavish European interiors, relief sculptures, and fine art collections housed within legendary Vanderbilt estates, such as The Breakers and Marble House. Enjoy special access to exhibitions at some of the region’s finest museums, such as the Redwood Library & Athenaeum. Discover the latest additions to Newport’s cultural landscape, including a special director-hosted visit to the newly opened Westerly Museum of American Impressionism, featuring masterpieces by Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent.
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in American Impressionism during a director-hosted tour of the newly opened Westerly Museum of American Impressionism, viewing luminous works by masters such as Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent.
- Go behind the scenes of the Gilded Age at Marble House, exploring private rooms rarely seen by the public at this Vanderbilt estate adorned with 500,000 cubic feet of imported marble.
- Experience the American Renaissance during a special inside look at The Breakers, admiring the lavish European craftsmanship, intricate tile mosaics, and personal effects commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
- Take a private tour of Vernon House, a National Historic Landmark, to view its exceptionally rare, early 18th-century Asian-inspired chinoiserie murals.
- Experience the finest early American craftsmanship after a director’s welcome at the Whitehorne House Museum, which displays world-renowned 18th-century Newport furniture.
- Indulge in private visits to historic venues, and enjoy a special exhibition tour at the colonial-era Redwood Library & Athenaeum, the oldest continuously operating lending library in the United States still in its original building.
Previous Trip
