Day four- The earnest beauty of Homewood
Self-care isn’t always fun. Today I made the difficult decision to skip the first site visit of the day, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. I have been feeling under the weather for about a week and the adventures of this trip, while incredible, have taken a toll. As a remote student, I have been dreaming of this seminar for two years and I specifically held out for D.C. so missing even a moment is heartbreaking. That being said, if I pass out at a site, I’ll have a bigger problem on my hands than disappointment so tough decisions had to be made.
In lieu of panda photos, here is an image that captures my morning:
Young Woman on her Deathbed (ca. 1621), painting by an unknown artist, oil on canvas.
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
The beauty of this place was so staggering that I struggle to even begin to describe it. This is not the first time I have had the privilege of viewing a truly extraordinary residence, but Hillwood is one of the few that have given me a real sense of its owner (in addition to dazzling me with its opulent beauty).
Top image: A fabulous portrait of the lady, herself. Bottom left: a small selection of the framed photographs displayed in her private rooms. Bottom middle: Life goals, honestly. She looks stunning and happy. Bottom right: Marjorie’s private dog cemetery. A seemingly small detail that went miles in communicating her character.
It is easy to be swept up in the finery of this home- it displays not one, but two Fabergé eggs and from my understanding of Marjorie, she would want you to enjoy marveling at her (quite literal) treasures. However, as I walked through the home consciously reminding myself to close my gaping jaw, I was more compelled by the clues about Marjorie’s quirky, fabulous, and kind legacy. One example of this was the display of gifts her staff had purchased for her which showed a genuine fondness and understanding of their employer. There was also clear evidence of her role as a loving grandmother and dog owner. (see images below)
left: a room often used by her grandson for napping, thus, the “snooze room,” right: the cutest boot scrapers I’ve ever seen. It looks like they’re still in production as well! Click here to see
After free-roaming the grounds, we gathered for a Q&A with a few Hillwood staff members. As they talked through the many specific challenges that come with historic homes, I was reminded of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Stipulations like keeping fresh flowers in the house sounds lovely in theory, but can be challenging in the long run. Despite the difficulty a founder’s wishes can cause, those quirky details add a sense of charm that you won’t find in a traditional gallery.
I was impressed with the range of programming offered and pleasantly surprised to see family programming! Curious minds and little hands can make for a tricky situation in a room filled with fragile treasures, but I can only imagine the awe of a little one as they take in the mansion. Watching a child connect with art is pure magic and I love that Hillwood thinks so too.
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