This iconic photograph captures a general view of the croquet court at Newport Casino, Rhode Island, USA, August 1987. The image epitomizes the sophisticated leisure culture and patrician elegance that defined Newport's golden age as America's premier summer resort destination for high society during the late 1980s. Depicting the timeless charm of the historic Newport Casino, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 in recognition of its architectural significance as one of the nation's finest Shingle style buildings and its importance in the history of American tennis, this photograph captures the essence of Newport's enduring aristocratic traditions at their most refined and authentic.
The scene embodies the genteel sporting culture that made Newport synonymous with American high society and established the Casino as the birthplace of American tournament tennis since 1881. This image represents the perfect fusion of architectural heritage and sporting tradition that continues to define Newport's status as the ultimate destination for America's social elite.
Slim Aarons, renowned for his evocative photographs of, as he described it, "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places," was the quintessential chronicler of high society. After serving as a war photographer, Aarons turned his lens to a new landscape: the glamorous lives of Hollywood elites, Palm Beach socialites, and jet-setting debutantes and princes. His work for society publications captured an aspirational world of leisure and luxury that defined the American upper class throughout the mid-20th century, creating images that remain timeless symbols of sophistication and style.
Every piece in our unique Slim Aarons collection is meticulously handcrafted using archival materials and printed on premium, luster photographic paper with environmentally safe inks, custom framed by skilled artisans who ensure that each work of art meets the exacting standards befitting such an iconic photograph.
