Visited Sunday, August 31st, 2014
While the Weir Farm is interesting in and of itself - I don't think of "50 miles from Manhattan" being so rural - it was particularly interesting to visit the farm directly after visiting the Twain House in Hartford.
J Alden Weir and Mark Twain, while not exact contemporaries, lived in very similar times - and in very similar ways. Both moved to Connecticut; both enjoyed some of their greatest artistic success in the state. Both had three daughters, who grew to adulthood, and one son who died in infancy. Both hired artisans of future fame for work on their domiciles.
But - there are vast differences between them as well. Twain hosted important people for dinner; Weir hosted artists for months. Twain's was energized by the people he got to see, by coming to Hartford; Weir by the beauty of a simple Connecticut farm. Twain led a hectic life; Weir a far more pastoral one. Both families suffered tragedy, but for Twain it seemed a more regular occurrence.
I've always been more drawn to literature than to art, and thus I'm naturally more drawn to Twain. But - while I think I'd have enjoyed meeting Twain, I suspect that I'd have gotten more out of knowing Weir.
As to the site itself - to really experience the site, I think one has to go with time to paint. That's really the point, in many ways, and the way to immerse oneself. The house tour is well worthwhile, and the studios - oddly enough, particularly Weir's son-in-law's studio - are fascinating.
And - we have now visited all of the current New England NPS units save for one (Boston African American - which we've tried for before but never had the right timing).
