After all these years, Christine and I finally went to the Farnsworth museum in downtown Rockland a few days ago. By coincidence there is a special exhibit of American Impressionist Frank Benson’s work. He had a summer studio across the Bay on North Haven island. Lovely breezy summer portraits of his family.

Today we had tea with Elinor and Gerry at their home overlooking the Thorofare on North Haven. As the conversation wound around to the Farnsworth, Elinor suggested we might like a peek at Benson’s home. She popped us in the car and we headed off on a personal guided tour of that side of the island. She grew up here and knows every nook and cranny.

Along the way we ran into her friend Peter Allen who has purchased the Benson estate and hopes to preserve it. He gave us a tour of the large barn which served as Benson’s studio. The walls are smeared with the oil paint where he cleaned his palette knives. Cool.

Yes, the photo has nothing to do with the post. Christine took it of a schooner leaving Camden and I like it.