Olson House is a 14-room Colonial farmhouse in Cushing, Maine. The house was made famous by its depiction in Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World. The house and its occupants, Christina and Alvaro Olson, were depicted in numerous paintings and sketches by Wyeth from 1939 to 1968. The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in June 2011. The Farnsworth Art Museum owns the house; it is open to the public.
The Hathorn-Olson House was built in the late 1700s by Captain Samuel Hathorn II (b abt. 1750). The house was substantially altered in 1871 by Captain Samuel Hathorn IV (1822–1892). The 1871 alterations included the addition of several bedrooms on the third floor and the construction of a steeply pitched roof.[1] The property was inherited in 1929 by Christina Olson and Alvaro Olson from their mother Katie Hathorn (b. Feb. 15 1858 - d. Nov. 1929), a descendant of Captain Hathorn.[1]
Association with Wyethedit
Between 1939 and 1968, the house was depicted in paintings and sketches by the American artist Andrew Wyeth, including his 1948 masterpiece, Christina's World.[2] Wyeth was inspired to paint Christina's World by the story of Christina Olson, who had lost the use of her legs to, at the time unknown, Charcot—Marie—Tooth disease.[3]
Wyeth befriended the Olsons and maintained a studio in the house. Wyeth later recalled, "I just couldn't stay away from there. I did other pictures while I knew them but I'd always seem to gravitate back to the house."[1] Christina and Alvaro Olson lived at the house until they died in 1968 and 1967, respectively. The Olsons, as well as Andrew Wyeth, are buried in the Olson family cemetery on the property.
Later yearsedit
After Christina's death, the house was purchased in 1968 by movie director Joseph E. Levine, who was an admirer of Wyeth's work.[4][5] Levine operated the house as a museum for two years starting in 1971 but the operation met with opposition from local residents.[6] In 1974, Levine announced that he would give the property to the State of Maine,[7] but Levine withdrew the offer in 1975 over concerns that the state lacked funding to maintain the property.[8][9] The house was purchased by Apple Inc. CEO John Sculley, who put the house up for sale in 1989.[10][11] Sculley eventually donated the house to the Farnsworth Art Museum in 1991.[1]
The Olson House remains under the ownership of the Farnsworth Art Museum, which maintains it as a facility that is open for public visitation. Farnsworth executive director Christopher Brownawell noted, "This nondescript saltwater farmhouse and its connecting structure has become one of the most recognized images in American art."[12]
^ abcd. Farnsworth Art Museum. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
^Aislinn Sarnacki (July 29, 2011). "Andrew Wyeth's Olson House paintings return to Maine". Bangor Daily News.
^Surugue, Léa (May 6, 2016). "Christina's World: Mystery illness of Andrew Wyeth's most famous painting discovered". International Business Times. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
^Jean Sanford (August 6, 1972). "And the House that Wyeth Painted Too" (PDF). The New York Times.
^Iver Peterson (July 21, 1973). "Tourists Lose Place in Christina's World" (PDF). The New York Times.
^"Tourists Crowd Cushing, Me; Art Museum Closes". The Telegraph. August 1, 1973.
^"Olson House Given To Maine". Daytona Beach Morning Journal (AP story). July 19, 1974.
^"Levine Reclaims Olson House". The Lewiston Daily Sun. July 22, 1975.
^"Grassy Olson field at issue". Bangor Daily News. June 2, 1975.
^"House in Wyeth's 'Christina's World' For Sale in Maine". The Washington Post. August 10, 1989.
^"Olson house of Wyeth fame goes up for sale". Bangor Daily News. August 9, 1989.
^ abBrian MacQuarrie (July 5, 2011). "Wyeth touch puts site in pantheon: Maine house in 'Christina's World' now a landmark". Boston Globe.
^"In an old Maine farmhouse, see the real 'Christina's World' as Andrew Wyeth experienced it". The Washington Post (Associated Press). July 15, 2011.[dead link]
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olson House.
January 01, 1970
olson, house, cushing, maine, olson, house, room, colonial, farmhouse, cushing, maine, house, made, famous, depiction, andrew, wyeth, christina, world, house, occupants, christina, alvaro, olson, were, depicted, numerous, paintings, sketches, wyeth, from, 1939. Olson House is a 14 room Colonial farmhouse in Cushing Maine The house was made famous by its depiction in Andrew Wyeth s Christina s World The house and its occupants Christina and Alvaro Olson were depicted in numerous paintings and sketches by Wyeth from 1939 to 1968 The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in June 2011 The Farnsworth Art Museum owns the house it is open to the public Olson HouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkOlson House in 2018Show map of MaineShow map of the United StatesNearest cityHathorne Point Road Cushing MaineCoordinates43 58 54 N 69 16 07 W 43 98167 N 69 26861 W 43 98167 69 26861Architectural styleColonialNRHP reference No 93001114Significant datesAdded to NRHPAugust 31 1995Designated NHLJune 23 2011 Contents 1 Early history 2 Association with Wyeth 3 Later years 4 Historic designation 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly history editThe Hathorn Olson House was built in the late 1700s by Captain Samuel Hathorn II b abt 1750 The house was substantially altered in 1871 by Captain Samuel Hathorn IV 1822 1892 The 1871 alterations included the addition of several bedrooms on the third floor and the construction of a steeply pitched roof 1 The property was inherited in 1929 by Christina Olson and Alvaro Olson from their mother Katie Hathorn b Feb 15 1858 d Nov 1929 a descendant of Captain Hathorn 1 Association with Wyeth editBetween 1939 and 1968 the house was depicted in paintings and sketches by the American artist Andrew Wyeth including his 1948 masterpiece Christina s World 2 Wyeth was inspired to paint Christina s World by the story of Christina Olson who had lost the use of her legs to at the time unknown Charcot Marie Tooth disease 3 Wyeth befriended the Olsons and maintained a studio in the house Wyeth later recalled I just couldn t stay away from there I did other pictures while I knew them but I d always seem to gravitate back to the house 1 Christina and Alvaro Olson lived at the house until they died in 1968 and 1967 respectively The Olsons as well as Andrew Wyeth are buried in the Olson family cemetery on the property Later years editAfter Christina s death the house was purchased in 1968 by movie director Joseph E Levine who was an admirer of Wyeth s work 4 5 Levine operated the house as a museum for two years starting in 1971 but the operation met with opposition from local residents 6 In 1974 Levine announced that he would give the property to the State of Maine 7 but Levine withdrew the offer in 1975 over concerns that the state lacked funding to maintain the property 8 9 The house was purchased by Apple Inc CEO John Sculley who put the house up for sale in 1989 10 11 Sculley eventually donated the house to the Farnsworth Art Museum in 1991 1 The Olson House remains under the ownership of the Farnsworth Art Museum which maintains it as a facility that is open for public visitation Farnsworth executive director Christopher Brownawell noted This nondescript saltwater farmhouse and its connecting structure has become one of the most recognized images in American art 12 Historic designation editThe building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2011 12 13 See also editList of National Historic Landmarks in Maine National Register of Historic Places listings in Knox County MaineReferences edit a b c d Olson House An historic site at the Farnsworth Art Museum Farnsworth Art Museum Archived from the original on July 19 2011 Retrieved July 29 2011 Aislinn Sarnacki July 29 2011 Andrew Wyeth s Olson House paintings return to Maine Bangor Daily News Surugue Lea May 6 2016 Christina s World Mystery illness of Andrew Wyeth s most famous painting discovered International Business Times Retrieved September 12 2018 Jean Sanford August 6 1972 And the House that Wyeth Painted Too PDF The New York Times Iver Peterson July 21 1973 Tourists Lose Place in Christina s World PDF The New York Times Tourists Crowd Cushing Me Art Museum Closes The Telegraph August 1 1973 Olson House Given To Maine Daytona Beach Morning Journal AP story July 19 1974 Levine Reclaims Olson House The Lewiston Daily Sun July 22 1975 Grassy Olson field at issue Bangor Daily News June 2 1975 House in Wyeth s Christina s World For Sale in Maine The Washington Post August 10 1989 Olson house of Wyeth fame goes up for sale Bangor Daily News August 9 1989 a b Brian MacQuarrie July 5 2011 Wyeth touch puts site in pantheon Maine house in Christina s World now a landmark Boston Globe In an old Maine farmhouse see the real Christina s World as Andrew Wyeth experienced it The Washington Post Associated Press July 15 2011 dead link External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olson House Farnsworth Art Museum official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olson House Cushing Maine amp oldid 1169263586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
