The Hunnewell Cottage in Wellesley, Massachusetts, stands as one of the most architecturally significant residences in the United States. Designed by John Sturgis and built in 1871 for Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, this elaborate Stick Style house is reported to be the first true Queen Anne structure in the country . The cottage's exterior paint scheme, originally featuring eight distinct colors, represents a masterpiece of Victorian-era architectural design that required meticulous research and careful restoration to preserve . In 1991, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities Conservation Center undertook a comprehensive paint study to identify the original exterior paint colors . Laboratory analysis revealed that the cottage was originally painted with eight colors, selected to match the colors of the stone and tile of the first story . For homeowners in Wellesley seeking to maintain the historical integrity of their distinguished properties, understanding the Hunnewell Cottage's polychromatic paint scheme provides valuable insight into period-appropriate Victorian color palettes.
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The Discovery of the Original Paint Scheme
The paint study began with an examination of a circa 1875 photograph that showed a polychromatic paint scheme in the varying tonality of the black and white image . Researchers began on-site work during the summer of 1992 with a quick examination of the existing paint scheme, which had all wooden elements painted tan with the shutters removed . Craters made in the paint, examined with field microscopes, revealed an interesting but confusing layering sequence . Some of this confusion was eliminated by comparing the layers on the original house with that of the 1879 addition, which originally had a two-color paint scheme of dark red and dark green that became a guide for identifying the finish layers of the original scheme .
In the field, some of the general colors of the original paint could be identified, including the tan on the clapboards, the red-brown on the trim, the blue on the underside of the gables, and the bright red-orange used to accentuate some of the architectural trim . The field observations also revealed the need for extensive sampling to identify the original locations of the many paint colors and the need to develop a system for keying the paint samples to photographs or drawings, so that the original design could be accurately reproduced . In the laboratory, microscopic examination of paint-sample cross sections revealed that the original design had been created with eight different colors and that the paints on the trim had been built up in layers, with the dominant red-brown trim color applied first, followed by the different colors used to accentuate the architectural ornament .
The Eight Colors Identified
The eight colors used to re-create the original paint scheme on the Hunnewell Cottage were documented using Munsell color notation . The clapboards were painted brown (10 YR 5/2). The wood trim principal color was dark red (2.5 YR 3/4). The blinds and window sash were dark olive green (5 Y 3/1). The underside of overhanging gables was sky blue (7.5 BG 7.4). The vertical board sheathing was mustard yellow (25 Y 6/6). The incised detail in the vertical board sheathing was olive green (7.5 Y 4/2). The gable brackets were dark red (5 YR 2/4). The ornamental wood trim highlighting was orange (10 R 5/10) . This complex paint scheme demonstrates the Victorian-era approach to color, where every element of a building was carefully considered and coordinated to create a cohesive architectural statement.
The Role of Color in Victorian Architecture
Victorian paint schemes reflected a dramatic shift from the earlier Colonial and Federal periods. Before the 1860s, painters made paint on the spot from dry pigments, oil, and turpentine, making the production of highly colored paints a difficult and expensive undertaking . With the advent of manufactured, pre-mixed paints distributed nationwide in cans, paint manufacturers began to produce paint color cards with recommendations for flamboyant paint schemes meant to use as many of their colors as possible . Architects and designers, meanwhile, were influenced by new scientific studies of color perception and advocated strongly for the use of deep colors inspired by nature and the eradication of glaring whites in architectural paints . The Hunnewell Cottage's eight-color scheme exemplifies this Victorian enthusiasm for rich, polychromatic color.
The Importance of Preserving Victorian Paint Schemes
The paint study and the re-creation of the original paint scheme on the Hunnewell Cottage revealed the important role played by paint analysis and the conservation of exterior architectural paints in the preservation of Victorian architecture . The full range and placement of colors on the cottage could not have been determined without the thorough sampling and analysis of the original paints, nor could the architect's full design intent have been understood without knowledge of the exterior paint colors . The re-creation of the scheme in 1993 required careful planning and execution, addressing issues of how historic wood surfaces should be prepared for repainting, how lead paint should be dealt with during surface preparation, what type of paint should be used to re-create a historic paint scheme, and the level of supervision required to successfully complete a paint restoration project of this scope .
Conclusion
The eight colors of the Hunnewell Cottage paint scheme represent a masterpiece of Victorian-era architectural design. Preserving such elaborate polychromatic schemes requires specialized knowledge, skill, and respect for the past. Suetam Painting & Finishes delivers authentic, period-appropriate results that honor the architectural legacy of Wellesley's historic homes.
