Photograph of Original Music Room (Early 20th Century)

Photograph of Original Music Room (Early 20th Century)

The music room was not part of the original house construction, and was divided into two rooms by presumably, John Carter Brown who removed a portion of the wall with a framed archway, separating the space into two rooms. In the 1920s, John Nicholas Brown II removed the archway and added a mantle. His changes to the music room transformed the room into a more open space. In the 19th century, the room was used as a drawing room. Unlike the parlor, which was more formal in nature, this was a room where the host could bring guests, either before or after dinner, to entertain and converse casually. When John and his new wife Anne took up residence in 1930, the drawing room became a music room, reflecting the couple’s mutual interest.

Although they had very different personalities, John and Anne appreciated each other’s artistic passions, and invited famous musicians to play at their home or performed as a family quintet for guests. John played the cello, Anne played the violin, and their children played the violin and piano. John and Anne were also active in musical philanthropy. John Nicholas Brown II founded the St. Dunstan’s College of Sacred Music in 1929, and Anne started the the Newport Music Festival in 1969.

Brown II, John Nicholas

Digital copy created by the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage

Early 20th Century

Minah Seo

Rights Status Not Evaluated

Photograph