Aspet circa 1890

In 1891, Saint-Gaudens bought the Cornish property from Charles Beaman and named it "Aspet," in honor of the French town where his father was born. As part of the purchase price, Beaman requested a relief portrait of himself. Almost immediately after Saint-Gaudens purchased the estate, he set about making radical changes to the house, the grounds, and the hay barn/studio. To the house were added porches and dormers; the hay barn studio received a pergola to the south side. The grounds were landscaped and divided into gardens with the addition of fences, walkways and steps.

South side of barn studio circa 1890