Historic Structures Report, Part I, Architectural Data: Little Studio

Gjessing, Frederik

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, New Hampshire, preserves the home, gardens, and studios of Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907), one of America's foremost sculptors. Of the various buildings within Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, the Studio is architecturally the most provocative. Generally referred to simply as the Studio, it is also called the Little Studio to distinguish it from the larger one that burned down in 1944, and the former workshop now called the New Studio, both at the northeastern fringe of the grounds. It is located approximately 75 feet northwest of Aspet, Saint-Gaudens' residence, on terraine that slopes away to the north and west. To the south and west it faces on the meadow below Aspet, the foreground to the site's fine views of the Green Mountains. To the east a small area enclosed by tall hedges with a fountain and benches serves as a forecourt to the Studio and a transition from the more formal terraced flower garden on the north side of Aspet. North of the Studio, in the space between the two wings of the structure, pines, that at one time formed the hedges around an intimate little court and a small swimming pool, have grown to full size trees dwarfing the building and reducing its former prominence on the grounds. The main entrance is in the east gable end of the building and is reached by a series of steps and brick walks from the piazza of Aspet. There are two secondary entrances. One opens directly on the pool to the north and the other, on the interior stairs leading down to the basement level and up to the main floor level. Additionally, there are two loading doors for bring or removing larger objects. One is located in the south wall and the other provides access to the modelling room in the smaller northeast wing of the building from the service road running north of the Studio and around to a coal shute in the west gable end of the building. By the architectural treatment of the pergola that embraces three sides of the building and other details, the Studio is tied in with Aspet. In a sense the pergola relfects the large piazza of Aspet, although it is more squat in proportion and of a different Greek order. At one time apparently an even closer architectural and visual connection between the two buildings was sought (Illustration No. XXII),* but the attempt apparently was not of long duration (Illustration No. 1). Still, the two buildings relate to each other and dominate the site when viewed from the lower grounds to the south and west (Illustration No. 2).

Historic Structures Report, Part I, Architectural Data: Little Studio

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