If you are a New Hampshire local, you most certainly have heard of the little gem–Castle in the Clouds–in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. This extravagant home was built in 1914 perched in the Ossipee Mountain Range. It’s famous for its lush views overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and its lavish interior. Beloved artist Peter Ferber created a series of paintings depicting the Castle. The Art Place recently refreshed its stock of these iconic prints, which are very popular with locals, or for couples who are married at the Castle! Wedding season is a popular time to purchase these prints, but they are stunning all year round. You can view all of these prints here.
Castle Above the Clouds
Peter Ferber documented his work on this series of paintings through small essays that go with each piece. One aspect of the Castle that he worked to convey was the rugged environment that surrounds the safe and civilized building. This can be seen in my favorite piece of the series–Castle Above the Clouds. In this painting, the large Castle seems minuscule compared to the view of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Peter also used unique perspectives to create these pieces. In Eye of the Castle, he stood on a 14-foot ladder to get just the right angle and view of reflections in the upper window. And The Corner Pocket captures so much of the architecture and feeling of the Castle and the surrounding landscape with just a tiny view of the corner of a room.
The Corner Pocket
The Castle series also highlights several painting styles that Peter is fluent in. Tea Time at the Castle is a wonderful example of Peter’s detailed watercolor work. The tiny lacework and precise reflections in the silver tea set are flawlessly executed. Peter got to experiment with painting new kinds of intricate details in this series of paintings–the shiny car in Winged Visitor, a newspaper in In the Wind, and another lace tablecloth in Sun Settings!
The Gatekeeper’s cottage and Pergola Perch are reminiscent of an old English country scene. The brown oil wash softens the background of these images and allows the landscape to delicately emerge from the background, leaving plenty of space for the imagination to “fill in the gaps”. Another oil piece–Castle Hues–takes this a step further. Although this painting is created with acrylics, Peter’s depth of hues is similar to his oil works; the clear blue of the distant mountains is a striking contrast to the earthy autumn trees in the foreground.
The Castle in the Clouds series is a gorgeous collection of works, highlighting local artist Peter Ferber’s artistic talents. Each painting expresses this New England landmark in a slightly different voice, and together they truly bring the Castle in the Clouds to life. Although their summer season is over, the Castle is still open to visitors, and many enjoy this time of year for the special Christmas at the Castle events. After seeing the Castle, Peter’s art prints may feel even more alive to you, as the memory of a visit adds further color and feeling to these vivid pieces.
Pergola Perch
Tea Time at the Castle