Gropius House

Hall Painting Landscape with cows

Milton native Thomas Hewes Hinckley (1813-1896) was a successful “niche” artist, who spent most of his career painting prized cattle and favorite sporting dogs for the region’s gentlemen farmers. Despite the consistent subject matter, Hinckley bristled when he was described as “the great painter of animals.” In the Barbizon tradition, Hinckley’s work skillfully rendered an idealized image of pastoral New England. Although he occasionally painted further afield, the rolling hills of this scene may well be the same Blue Hills that surround the Eustis Estate.