The Arethusa Collection
From Italian Renaissance to Contemporary British Art

November 16, 2024 through March 30, 2025

Tony Yurgaitis, owner of Arethusa Farm in Litchfield, has been collecting since boyhood.

From Renaissance Madonnas to contemporary paintings, Picasso ceramics to Murano glass, and folkloric weathervanes to Danish Flora Danica, Tony has acquired works of art of all kinds from all around the world. He is a collector who lives with his art, thoughtfully placing each object within the stunningly beautiful interiors of his home. In these rooms, he enjoys and shares the collection with his family and friends.

A parallel endeavor in Tony’s life is the business of sustainable agriculture. At Arethusa, which he acquired in 1999, the team is devoted to humane and environmentally responsible practices in pursuit of excellent dairy products, including their award-winning cheeses and delicious ice cream.

Tony’s story, fusing appreciation of art with a passion for farming, is a familiar one at Hill-Stead. Over a century ago, the Pope family set an exemplary model: Alfred with his daring collecting of then-vanguard art; Ada designing the gorgeous interiors for its display; and Theodate as farmer, with the awards bestowed upon her Guernsey cow, Anesthesia’s Faith, among her most prized achievements.

The installation of Arethusa’s art collection onsite here at Hill-Stead honors the connection between Tony and the Pope family – kindred spirits and gentle farmers, then and now.