Henry Flagler brings art to Florida

"Florida Sunrise" Martin Johnson Heade c. 1890-1900

(Courtesy Google Arts & Culture)

Sounds like a headline and it might have been back in 1888 in St. Augustine, Florida.  Henry Flagler, millionaire developer and Standard Oil co-founder took a liking to the sleepy, historic town of St. Augustine and decided he would make it a destination for the rich and cultured of the Gilded Age. To attract this type of clientele he built the magnificent Ponce de Leon Hotel.  Outfitted with all the best and latest comforts (like electricity) it attracted wealthy Northerners during the season and gave them a glimpse of the beauty of Florida.  From there Flagler moved his hotel empire even further south and the lure of St. Augustine was replaced by the glitz of Palm Beach and eventually Miami and the Keys.

But Flagler started a trend of artists coming to Florida to rest, create and share their art with a discerning and wealthy clientele. He outfitted the Ponce de Leon Hotel with a number of studios for artists where they were able to create, exhibit, and sell their works.  Martin Johnson Heade, a renowned artist at the time, is just one of the many who had a successful studio at the Ponce de Leon Hotel.  Flagler was a smart developer with a knack for what the public wanted.  Creature comforts are paramount but feeding the soul with art was also important.  To this day, St. Augustine has the reputation for being one of the major art communities in Florida with a remarkable amount of galleries and a thriving art association.

If you love in Florida, or have the opportunity to visit Daytona Beach, take an afternoon and make a stop at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach.  Among their remarkable collection you will find many paintings from the era of the Ponce de Leon Hotel and St. Augustine.  They depict a lush, rich Florida, a Florida difficult to find in these days of the new developers who forget that art, like creature comforts, are also important for an exceptional quality of life.

Learn more about the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach by visiting the link below --
Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art

For a sample of some of my work and impressions of Florida visit my website:
Krys Pettit Original Artwork