The History of Rocky Neck
America's Oldest Working Art Colony
One of the oldest working art colonies in the country, Rocky Neck has been luring artists to its picturesque shores for more than 150 years.
Legendary Artists Who Worked at Rocky Neck
The Early Years (1840s-1900s) From Fitz Henry Lane in the 1840s to the arrival of painters and sculptors who would shape American art, Rocky Neck became a magnet for creative pioneers.
The Golden Age (1850-1950) Among the artists who made Rocky Neck their creative home: Emile Gruppe, who painted here into the 1970s; Childe Hassam, Milton Avery, Maurice Prendergast, Cecilia Beaux, John Sloan, Stuart Davis, Frank Duveneck, Nell Blaine, and Jane Peterson.
Beyond the Canvas Leonard Craske created "The Man at the Wheel," Gloucester's famous landmark sculpture, in his studio on the pier in the 1920s. Writers including Louisa May Alcott and Rudyard Kipling frequented The Neck.
Today's Living Legacy Rocky Neck remains home to working artists and galleries showcasing paintings, batik, photography, jewelry, prints, sculpture, ceramics, and fine gifts. Waterfront restaurants offer the same spectacular harbor views that inspired generations of masters.
A Little History of 6 Wonson
The historic carpenter-gothic building was constructed in 1877 as a meeting house for the neighborhood. It was originally home to religious services, political meetings, neighborhood events and some theater.
Over the years, the property changed hands, served as an art gallery, and in the 1950s was purchased and operated by The Church of Christ, Scientist until 2011.
In 2012, the property was purchased and held for the Rocky Neck Art Colony, Inc., by members Steve and Kathy Archer. That year RNAC began a capital campaign to purchase the building and completed the campaign goal in 2014.
RNAC purchased the building from the Archers at market value, paying off the mortgage completely in May 2014. The capital campaign’s success was due to a large and generous group of local donors and grant funding. Today the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck is home to exhibitions, art workshops, lectures, music — all things cultural!
Walk in the Footsteps of Masters
The Rocky Neck Historic Art Trail guides you to fifteen sites where Winslow Homer, Fitz Henry Lane, Edward Hopper, and other pioneering American artists worked, lived, and found inspiration. Walk the same paths they walked, see the iconic harbor views that shaped their masterworks, and experience one of the most important places in American art history.
Timeline Points:
1844 — Fitz Henry Lane paints Gloucester Harbor from Rocky Neck
1873 — Winslow Homer's first visit to Rocky Neck
1877 — Cultural Center building constructed as neighborhood meeting house
1920s — Leonard Craske creates "The Man at the Wheel" sculpture in his Rocky Neck studio
1970s — Emile Gruppe continues painting at Rocky Neck
2012 — RNAC begins capital campaign to purchase Cultural Center
2014 — Cultural Center purchase completed, mortgage paid off
Today — Thriving community of working artists, galleries, and cultural programs
Rocky Neck Through the Years
Rocky Neck Art Colony 1850-1950 Gloucester, Massachusetts
by Judith A. Curtis
This richly illustrated hardcover volume brings to life a century of artistic energy on Cape Ann.
Filled with stunning images of paintings, artists, and historic moments, it chronicles the evolution of one of America’s oldest art colonies and the vibrant creative community that shaped its legacy.
This book is lovingly dedicated to Helen Wessel, and to the memory of her dear husband, Robert Wessel, with heartfelt gratitude to the Rocky Neck Art Colony, whose support helped make this important historical project possible.
The author, Judith A. Curtis, is a freelance writer specializing in art-related subjects. A resident of Cape Ann, she is a regular contributor to American Art Review and the author of several books on prominent American artists, including works on Anthony Thieme, Paul Strisik, W. Lester Stevens, and Harry A. Vincent and their contemporaries.
We hope these pages transport you into the rich artistic history of Rocky Neck and inspire you as much as the artists who lived and worked here.
Happy reading—and thank you for being part of the story.
Author bio: Written by Judith A. Curtis, a freelance writer specializing in art-related themes and regular contributor to American Art Review. Designed by Stephen Bridges.
Price: $34.95
Title also available for resale. Contact us for wholesale information.
Experience Rocky Neck Today
The legacy continues. Visit Rocky Neck to discover working artists in their studios, explore galleries and exhibitions, and walk the same waterfront paths that inspired over 150 years of American art.