About

About the Hermitage:

Built on the banks of the lovely Lafayette River in Norfolk, Virginia, the Hermitage is a rambling early 20th century Arts and Crafts estate-turned-museum, developed by Norfolk’s William and Florence Sloane. Construction on what was originally conceived as a 5-room summer home began in 1908. As the Sloane family grew, so did the Hermitage and its purpose. The current 42-room configuration was completed in 1937, in advance of the Sloanes’ opening their private residence as one of Norfolk’s first art museums to showcase their extensive private collection and to serve as a space for the appreciation of art and cultures.

The Hermitage is home to the Sloane Collection, an assemblage of fine and decorative art which rivals the house itself in both scope and inventiveness. With over 5,000 objects, the collection spans 5,000 years of art history and represents over 30 countries. As a pioneering patron of early 20th century painters and sculptors, Mrs. Florence Sloane is among the pantheon of great American collectors.

About this blog: All blog posts published from July 2012 through April 2016 were written by former Chief Curator, Colin Brady.  Posts written before July 2012 were written by the former Curator of Collections, Lauren Northup, unless otherwise noted.