Helen Bruce Dioramas Exhibit

At the end of the Boscobel House tour, the guide pointed out a room I would have otherwise missed. Inside was an exhibit of miniature dioramas by Helen Bruce (1880-1961).

Though completely unconnected to the house, I found them fascinating, with such an amazing level of detail!

Bruce attended Smith College, then studied painting at the New York School of Art. After her 1905 marriage to painter Patrick Henry Bruce, the couple moved to Paris, where they became part of a close-knit artist community that included the likes of Cezanne, Picasso, and Matisse.

The family didn’t make much from painting, so they traded in antiques. But after her husband died, she began making dioramas for herself and favorite clients. Only a few dozen dioramas survive today.

I could find almost nothing about Bruce online (it’s not even on the Boscobel website!), though I did find a diorama for sale for $4,000! As you can see from my photos, they do justify the price.

_{The cover photo is The Kitchen.}