Richard Morris Hunt has long been associated with contributions of extraordinary architecture, including The Breakers and Marble House, that provided the grand backdrop for America’s Gilded Age.
The first American admitted to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, Hunt returned home to instill European grandeur into his buildings. But Hunt also envisioned creating a national identity beyond physical structures. He was a collector, and this act of collecting, as well as what he collected, reflected how he sought to influence America’s cultural development.
Beginning May 30 at Rosecliff, The Preservation Society of Newport County will examine this lesser-known aspect of Hunt’s legacy with the opening of the exhibition “Richard Morris Hunt: In A New Light.”
