Home Of New Mexico Artists Named National Historic Landmark

A famous husband and wife team of artists from New Mexico just had their home listed as a national, historic landmark and you can actually stay there.

Peter and Henriette Wyeth-Hurd painted New Mexico landscapes and people from the 1930's until their deaths, his in 1984, hers in 1997. Peter Hurd is considered to be one of the most important of all New Mexico's painters.

Their son Michael continues to paint and watches over his parents house and studio in San Patricio, New Mexico, about 20 miles from Ruidoso, New Mexico.

After graduating from the military academy in Roswell, Peter headed to West Point in New York but dropped out after 2 years to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. While there, he met Henriette Wyeth, fell in love and convinced her to move to New Mexico. Which, apparently, wasn't easy.

In the early 1930s, the newly married couple moved to Hurd’s hometown, where the Military Institute had commissioned him for a mural (later lost to fire). With his earnings, Hurd bought 40 acres and an adobe hacienda 50 miles west of Roswell, in the almost impossibly bucolic San Patricio, thereby staking his claim to a place-based artistic dynasty that is now going on 91 years. - newmexicomagazine.org

Henriette and her family were practically royalty in the art community back east but Peter wanted to make a name for himself so, for the rest of their lives, he and Henriette chased assignments and commissions while painting their world and surroundings.

Self exiling themselves from the big time art world, they did their own thing while they raised 3 kids. You can visit the Hurd house and studio for an afternoon getaway or you can stay longer in one of 5 guest homes.