New Hampshire's Cornish Colony illustrates this distinguished American art colony. First settled in 1885 by colleagues of America's Michelangelo, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the Cornish Colony was a retreat for sculptors, painters, writers, and musicians. They were attracted to this peaceful valley nestled in the New Hampshire hills in the shadow of Vermont's Mount Ascutney. Known as "the Athens of America," the Cornish Colony was a lively, glamorous society during its heyday from 1885 to 1925. One outstanding member, the famous artist Maxfield Parrish, was called a "chickadee" because he spent...