Painter's Folly is an Italianate style home built in 1857 by Samuel Painter. This historic house is located along Baltimore Pike, just east of the Brandywine Battlefield Park. Painter's Folly was the home of Howard Pyle, the founder of the Brandywine School of Art. One of the many students that Pyle had under his tutelage was N.C. Wyeth. More recently, N.C. Wyeth's son, Andrew Wyeth, frequented Painter's Folly, where he rendered many paintings of the historic house and environs. In March 2018, Chadds Ford Township purchased Painter's Folly as part of Township's Open Space inventory to preserve the house and three and one-half acre property.
Painter's Folly: A Comprehensive History
Friends of Painter's Folly Steering Committee
A steering committee has been established to guide and oversee the future of the Painter's Folly property. The Friends of Painter's Folly Steering Committee will make recommendations/suggestions to the Supervisors regarding uses for the property; stewardship/ preservation of the house and grounds; fundraising, and budget development and oversight.
Available to twelve painters per month, Studios of Painter's Folly: Community Art Space is located in Painter's Folly, a historical mansion famous for being one of Andrew Wyeth's biggest inspirations. The studios are located in two rooms known as the Wyeth and Pyle Studios on the second floor of Painter's and overlook the home's 3.6 acres.
Studio space is available to Group A Monday through Wednesday from 8:30AM to 3:30PM and to Group B Thursday through Saturday from 8:30AM to 3:30PM. The cost is $150 per month. Additionally, one artist from each group has the opportunity to rent the studio previously occupied by Andrew Wyeth on the third floor for $200 per month. Interested painters should email Chadds Ford Township at info [at] chaddsfordpa.gov for additional information and availability.