The House That Jack Built - The Fleur de Lys, a National Historic Landmark

The Providence Art Club’s Fleur de Lys Studios provides one of the most remarkable sights on the streets of Providence. With its medieval half-timbered construction and facade of sculpted decorations, many passersby would not guess that it was built in 1885. In this talk, long-time Art Club member and former President Rob Emlen explains the origins and history of one of the Art Club’s favorite buildings. Designed as artist studios by the Providence painter and leading light of the Providence Art Club Sydney Richmond Burleigh, the Fleur de Lys soon attracted a national reputation as an exemplar of the architecture of the Arts and Crafts Movement in America. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992. Rob recently retired as University Curator and Senior Lecturer in American Studies at Brown University, where he was responsible for the artworks and historical properties that furnish the Brown campus.