RyeGPT People of Note: Painter, Former Knapp House Proprietor Lauren Ford

RyeGPT People of Note is a series highlighting individuals who have a connection to the City of Rye. In the series we ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT to prepare a biography and explain the individual’s connection to Rye.

We welcome your feedback on this series – the use of artificial intelligence, the accuracy and usefulness of each article and your assistance in understanding other pertinent insights related to the person’s connection to Rye.

You can add comments at the bottom of each article or you can send feedback via Tips & Letters.

Lauren Ford (1891–1973) was an American painter and illustrator best known for her religious-themed art, including nativity scenes, angels, and illustrations for children’s books. Her deep Catholic faith, classical training, and artistic vision made her one of the most admired religious artists of her time. Her family had a lasting connection to Rye, New York, where her early work and life took shape.

Early Life and Artistic Development

Lauren was born Julia Lauren Ford on January 23, 1891, in New York City. Her artistic talent emerged early under the guidance of her mother, Julia Ellsworth Ford, who began teaching her to draw at just 18 months. At the age of nine, Lauren traveled to France to study with her uncle, the artist Lawrence Shaw, and was deeply influenced by medieval art and the monastic culture at Solesmes Abbey. She continued her formal training at the Académie Colarossi in Paris and later at the Art Students League in New York.

In the 1920s, Lauren converted to Catholicism and became a Benedictine oblate. This transformation led to a prolific period of artistic output centered around sacred themes. She illustrated books, designed Christmas cards, and exhibited in major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Corcoran Gallery. Her picture book The Ageless Story earned a Caldecott Honor in 1940.

Connection to Rye

In 1906, Lauren’s father, Simeon Ford, purchased the historic Knapp House on Rye Beach Avenue. He expanded the property by adding greenhouses, aviaries, and a dedicated studio for Lauren. The family spent their summers in Rye, and Lauren’s artistic output during this period was closely tied to the town’s landscape and cultural atmosphere. She also operated a flower shop on Purchase Street, and her brother Ellsworth maintained the greenhouses on the property, which eventually evolved into J.B. Rich Nursery (this area is now Rye Recreation’s Nursery Field).

The Rye Historical Society holds a painting by Lauren showing the view from her studio at Knapp House in its collection. 

Later in life, Lauren moved to a farm in Bethlehem, Connecticut. She adopted a daughter, built a chapel and studio, raised sheep, and eventually donated the property to the Abbey of Regina Laudis, which she helped establish.

Ford Family

Julia Ellsworth Ford (1859–1950), was a writer, playwright, and patron of the arts who played an active role in shaping early 20th-century literary culture. She hosted salons in New York and Rye, welcoming intellectuals and artists such as Kahlil Gibran, W. B. Yeats, and Isadora Duncan.

Simeon Ford (1855–1933), was a businessman and hotelier known for his wit, public speaking, and co-ownership of the Grand Union Hotel in New York City. After purchasing the Knapp House in Rye, he supported Lauren’s artistic pursuits and helped transform the property into a creative and horticultural hub. He passed away at the home in 1933.