Hawthorne Class Studio

The Hawthorne Class Studio is located in Provincetown off Miller Hill Road near the junction with Standish Avenue. The building sits in a sparsely settled area on the outskirts of downtown but within walking distance of the harbor. The terrain is hilly and sandy with scrubby pine growth, beachplum, blackberry and shad bushes. The nearly four acres of property include the studio building as well. as a house. The barn-like class studio was constructed between 1900 and 1907 and remains unaltered. The shingled building has a gambrel roof and a slight overhang defining the second story level on the south facade and north elevation. The 50' x 80' structure sits on cement block pilings. The west elevation hangs over a hill and is supported by cement pillars.

The building is reached by a long flight of wooden steps at the southern end of the west elevation. A wooden boardwalk follows the south facade and continues around the corner along the east elevation. The entrance is at the center of the south facade. Fenestration is varied, framed by plain, unpainted architraves. There are two windows in both the north and south gable ends. A small one story shed projects from the northern end of the east elevation. The house is situated north of the studio. It is a four bay wide, four bay deep, 1½ story ridge roof structure. A three bay wide shed roof dormer rises from the southeast facade roof. There is one chimney and a one story ell attached to the rear elevation.

The house was moved from Commercial Street near Town Hall to its present location to accommodate Hawthorne's art students.

/ARCHITECT The Hawthorne Class Studio is significant for its association with the noted artist, Charles W. Hawthorne and for its continuous use as an art school for 70 years. Hawthorne held his first art classes in his home on Miller Hill Road not far from the present studio. He moved his growing class to the barn at the same time he moved his personal working space to the Day's Studios on Pearl Street in Provincetown (presently the Cape School of Art). Hawthorne served as William Merritt Chase's assistant in 1897 and from that time continued his summer teaching schedule in town. Hawthorne is recognized as the founder of the art community in Provincetown and remained its leading figure until his death in 1930. The Cape School of Art established Provincetown as an important art center.

Hawthorne's achievements as a portrait painter were considerable, and his recog- nition as an artist and teacher continue to increase. The house was brought from Provincetown Center by Mrs. Hawthorne. It was moved in four pieces and reassembled near the studio. The Hawthornes never occupied the house, but rented it to students. During the period from 1930 to 1945 the property was occupied by Hans Hofman, world famous artist and instructor. He taught classes in the studio and lived in the house with his wife during the summers. Rooms in the house were rented to students who shared the kitchen with the Hofmans. Morris Davidson, painter and teacher, acquired the property in 1945.

Davidson has operated the painting school for 30 years without interruption and without alteration to the physical appearance of the studio or to the character of the original classes.