At the heart of great art lies great inspiration. Creativity can be drawn from all aspects of life, which is why the new exhibit at The Art Gallery at UNH, “On Gilded Pond: The Life and Times of the Dublin Art Colony,” is so fascinating. Each piece of artwork within the exhibit can be attributed to a single source of motivation: the Monadnock region surrounding the town of Dublin. Rich with tranquility and pristine beauty, the area began establishing itself as an artistic hub in the late 1880s. 

For over 40 years, this awe-inspiring region stirred the souls of more than 30 artists. Creative people flocked to southwestern New Hampshire with hopes that the setting would ignite their spirit with imagination. The results were majestic pieces of art, leading to what is now known as the Dublin Art Colony.

At the heart of great art lies great inspiration. Creativity can be drawn from all aspects of life, which is why the new exhibit at The Art Gallery at UNH, “On Gilded Pond: The Life and Times of the Dublin Art Colony,” is so fascinating. Each piece of artwork within the exhibit can be attributed to a single source of motivation: the Monadnock region surrounding the town of Dublin. Rich with tranquility and pristine beauty, the area began establishing itself as an artistic hub in the late 1880s. 

For over 40 years, this awe-inspiring region stirred the souls of more than 30 artists. Creative people flocked to southwestern New Hampshire with hopes that the setting would ignite their spirit with imagination. The results were majestic pieces of art, leading to what is now known as the Dublin Art Colony.

When arriving in the area, Mark Twain was so moved by the atmosphere that he could not put down his pen. He recalled this remarkable feeling in a 1905 interview with New York Times reporter A.E. Thomas, part of which is included with the UNH exhibit: “It is claimed that the atmosphere of the New Hampshire highlands is exceptionally bracing and stimulating, and a fine aid to hard and continuous work. It is a just claim, I think. I came in May, and wrought thirty-five successive days without a break. It is possible that I could not have done it elsewhere. I do not know; I have not had any disposition to try it before. I think I got the disposition out of the atmosphere this time. I feel quite sure, in fact, that that is where it came from,” Twain said.

The picturesque environment described by Twain is perfectly depicted in Richard Meryman’s painting “View of Monadnock.” The scene is ordinary in nature but extraordinary in beauty. In the distance, a set of mountain peaks complements a vibrant array of carefully arranged flowers. The astounding view leaves viewers grateful for the simple blessing of life. It is no wonder that hope and inspiration run rampant in such a setting. 

The natural beauty of the area is reflected in many pieces of artwork, but so, too, is the simple lifestyle. William Preston Phelps’ painting “Mount Monadnock from Harrisville, NH” captures the essence of rural farm life, as cows nonchalantly roam the dreary yet vast open field. Dark clouds overhead seem to indicate nature’s ferocious potential, while still capturing the splendor of serenity.

While many of the eye-grabbing displays are interesting, so are the stories behind the artists. New England native Abbott Handerson Thayer, for example, visited the Dublin area in 1888. He was so impressed with the town’s natural magnificence and peacefulness that he quickly became a year-round resident. While in Dublin, Thayer developed a deeper appreciation of nature. This newfound awareness led to extensive research about the ways animals use coloring to protect themselves from the environment. A study beginning in 1892 led to a profound understanding of counter-shading, which played a large role in the creation of what is now known as camouflage.

Catherine Mazur, education and publicity coordinator for The Art Gallery, stresses the connections between Dublin’s artists. Their paths and interests intertwined, creating an artistic community that dissolved the isolated bubbles under which many artists tend to operate. Many of Barry Faulkner’s murals reflect the connections he made within the community. His murals of Thoreau, Emerson and Thayer are on display at the exhibit.

The entire collection will be on display until April 9 at The Art Gallery, located in the Paul Creative Arts Center at the University of New Hampshire’s Durham campus. The gallery is open to the public Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Additional programs will be held throughout the month to supplement the collection on display, including lectures and a film series. 

For more information, contact The Art Gallery at 603-862-3712 or visit the www.unh.edu/art-gallery. The “On Gilded Pond” exhibit is organized by the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, a division of Keene State College. Art teachers interested in scheduling guided tours can call Catherine Mazur at 603-862-3713 or contact her by email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it