No strangers to ostentation, the Vanderbilt's spared no expense at The Breakers, their 1895 gilded 'cottage' in Newport, Rhode Island. There are a number of exquisitely painted decorations, including a couple of the prettiest ceilings I've ever seen. Unfortunately; no photography allowed. If that's going to be the case, then please at least give us a decent bookstore!
Alan, I can't tell- is that painted? If so, wow- it's excellent.
ReplyDeleteIf not, it's still a beautiful grottesca. Like the background color also.
-Ann
Yes Ann, grisaille ornament painted on a green ground. What I particularly liked about this panel was the way the artist varied the depth of the shadows. All the arabesques are treated as shallow relief, but the central figure appears to raise out of the canvas, with deeper shadows. It was a really nice effect.
ReplyDeletethere is a book of the interiors of lots of these newport mansions. however, they show the rooms, not the details. time for some stealth photography. we are counting on you, alan!
ReplyDeleteI only managed this shot of the panel shown; I was too nervous! :)
ReplyDeleteI think we have to get some kind of stealth rig for these places where they don't want photos. I snuck a bunch at the Ufizzi galleries when I was there. Same thing- if we're not supposed to take photos, they could at least have a good book on it available in the book store.
ReplyDelete...like Woody Allen in that movie where he was casing a bank and hid a camera inside a loaf of bread that he held to his face.
ReplyDeleteSeriously! We need to have a website for "stealth" art photos! Alan, between you and Steve, there is a pretty good start! Thanks for this shot....I too, love the intense depth of the central figure.
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