Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum and Wallace Nutting

Wallace Nutting was a minister in the early 20th century, who tired of pastoral work.  A passionate 
antiquarian and photographer, Nutting began posing his wife and other friends in colonial garb
in settings with historic furniture and furnishings.  His photographs and the prints 
made from them made Nutting famous and fabulously wealthy.


Nutting bought five historic houses around New England, including Wethersfield's Joseph Webb house, now part of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum.  Many of the house's rooms have murals painted a century ago as backgrounds for Nutting's photographs.  Through September,
 the museum is presenting exhibitions of Nutting photographs and prints, as well as
some rooms fitted out as they were when Nutting photographed them in 1916.


This is Birthday Flowers, a 1916 Nutting picture set in the Webb house and simulated today in the museum.  (Taken from an image in a Hartford Courant article on the internet.)




The museum's fine gardens are often the setting for summer weddings.

7 comments:

Sharon said...

Oh wow, I'd love to see this place in person.

RedPat said...

I think that would be an interesting exhibition to see, Jack!

Taken For Granted said...

Those dining room chairs are the same as were in my parent's house. I think they were copies, at least I hope so.

William Kendall said...

Fascinating!

Linda said...

Looks like a very interesting place!

jennyfreckles said...

House looks gorgeous. Nutting sounds an interesting fellow. Seems an odd thing to make a load of money from.

Kay said...

So....is this where you're heading with your portraiture, Jack?