Art Collection

The Governor’s Residence is home to a collection of historic art dating from the late 18^th century. Visitors touring the State and Public Rooms will view paintings by great artists such as Thomas Sully, Rembrandt Peale, Charles Peale Polk, and Gilbert Stuart. Many of these remarkable pieces are on loan from world-class institutions, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Carnegie Museum of Art.

The Governor's Residence offers tours on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM until 2:00 PM. Reservations are required and can be made by completing our online tour request form.

CURRENT EXHIBIT

Bill Hutson: Selections from the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College

First Lady Frances Wolf has unveiled "Bill Hutson: Selections from the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College," a new collection of art on display at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence in Harrisburg throughout the spring and summer. In the works chosen for this exhibition, Hutson masterfully creates depth and space in a two-dimensional study, preparing to translate his architectural vision to a three-dimensional finished canvas.

"I am personally honored to share this historic collection, as Bill was my teacher when I attended Franklin & Marshall College, a place where I was nurtured, encouraged, and inspired," said First Lady Frances Wolf. "We are so proud to share this work, and we are grateful to the Phillips Museum and Franklin & Marshall College for making this exhibit possible."

Born in San Marcos, Texas, in 1936, Hutson has traveled to more than 22 countries throughout his career and spent significant time living abroad in England, France, Italy, Holland, Senegal, and Nigeria. His journeys introduced him to influential abstractionists such as Edward Clark and Sam Middleton and sparked an interest in African culture and philosophy that often translated into his work.

Often incorporating symbols, shapes, and numbers, Hutson's work conveys a sense of magnetism while alluding to sacred space, history, or experience. Many of the works featured in this exhibit reflect the architecture and location where Hutson was working at the time of creation, from the rooftops seen in an Indian neighborhood to the skyline visible from his Paris apartment window.

"The Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College is delighted to share selections from Bill Hutson's important collection," said Director of the Phillips Museum Amy Moorefield. "As a Pennsylvania-based artist, Hutson's work connects us with his love of Lancaster as well as his inspiration and deep experiences from around the globe. The Phillips is both honored to share Hutson's work with the Governor's Residence and excited for our friends in Harrisburg to see such excellent examples while emphasizing our mission of sharing the collection with various communities."

Today, Hutson lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2010, the Phillips Museum of Art received a large collection of his life's work, while his archives are housed in the Franklin & Marshall College Library.

Pennsylvania's Governors' Residences from the 17th to the 21st Century
This photographic exhibit features official and unofficial homes of Pennsylvania's governors throughout the Commonwealth's history. The narrative begins in Harrisburg's first decade as the state capitol, through the current era and concludes with domiciles of Pennsylvania governors that have become landmarks in their own right.
This project was developed by David Morrison and Jeb Stuart of the Historic Harrisburg Association at the suggestion of First Lady Frances Wolf and is based on a lecture of the same name given by Morrison for the association. This fascinating anthology is in the Residence's South Hall and will remain in Residence indefinitely.