Sterling Forest, Orange County, New York 1962

This photograph captures a quiet moment in the sculpture garden at Sterling Forest, where a large bronze sundial dominates the manicured lawn. The sundial, mounted at a dramatic angle, is the work of sculptor Paul Manship, best known for the gilded Prometheus statue at Rockefeller Center. Here, his style is unmistakable: mythological figures, flowing movement, and classical influence fused with a bold, modern simplicity.

Around the sundial are several other sculptures displayed on wooden pedestals, each positioned carefully across the circular lawn. A stone walkway curves gracefully through the garden, guiding visitors between the artworks while framing the open grass space in the centre.

A wooden sign provides context for the sundial, explaining both the artistic intent and its function — a reminder that this was not just ornamental, but a working timepiece using nothing more than sunlight and shadow. The neatly cut lawn, newly planted trees, and orderly flowerbeds suggest that the grounds were still relatively fresh at the time of the photograph, part of a planned cultural attraction rather than a long-established estate.

Beyond the sculptures, the dense forest rises toward the horizon — wild, rugged, and unmistakably part of the Hudson Valley landscape. Granite boulders, brush, and uneven terrain visible in the distance hint at the land’s natural character before development.

A woman steps partly into frame at the left, giving a sense of scale and reminding us this was a public space meant to be explored, not just admired from afar.