New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-11
AN ARTISTS HOUSE BURNED
BIERsTADTs PAINTERS BOX DESTROYED.
FLAMES AT IRvINeTON-oN-r THEE HUDSON - The
ARTISTS HOME. WITH MANY PAINTINGS AND


known artist. at Irvngton-on-th the Hudson together
with many of his most valuable paintings and nat
uraI curostles from all parts of the world, was to-
tally destroyed by fro yesterday morning The
mansion was formerly the summer residence of the
artist 1t was planned to suit his taste and cOnven
lence IN following his professional pursuit. and
known as the Painters Box" 1t was situated on
very high ground about mile and a half east OF
the village and commanded a magnificent view of
the hudson for many miles in both directions. 1t
was built of granite with white marble trimmings,
was three stories high and had q mansard roof
The dimensions Of the hoIsc about 70 feet by
100 and 1t contained studio 70 feet by so, with
ceiling 80 feet high In the latter were
kept some Of Mr. Bierstadts valuable paint
inss. Much Of the furniture was broken
by the fremen and neighbors while trying
to save It, Mr.. Berstadt has not occupied the house
tor four wears. For the last two summers Henry I.
chapman. jr of Brooklyn, member Of the New
York Stock Exchange, with his family, has lived IN
1t. They only returned 20 Brooklyn on Thursday.
Several servant girls were left behind. They stayed
until yesterday morning about O'Clock
About half an hour after their departure the viii
lage schoolhouse bell sounded an alarm of fire
which proceeded from the Painters Box The fire
men OF Irvington, Penny Bridge and Tarrytown
promptly responded, but on their arrival at the
scene of the cOnfagraton they were unable to ar
rest the progress of the flames and all except
the stone walls was heap Of ruins. The property
has been IN the charge of Peter Konrad German
fora considerable time, and except during last sum
mer be has occupied portion of the mansion with
his family, who slept there on Thursday night
The ire was first discovered in a basement room Of
the main building. where there vas engine used
for pumping water into tank on the top of the
house for domestic purposes and the rxtIngushiug
OF hTes IN case Of need. 1t stated last evening
mat tle water supply OF the House Lad been sAuJ
on ana The fire under the boiler lett burning ms
lgulIeu tle WOODWORK IN tie room, ana thcuCc luc
nre spread and enVelOped tho building. IL was re-
ported that Mr.. Bierstadts loss Is upward of
FlOOOYO. He had an insurance OF only Sl0'OOO
upon the house.
Mr. Chapmal's place of business s at No. y
Broadway. In conversation with D tribune re-
porter yesterday be said that the building was
erected sixteen years ago by Mt Beritadi az cost
OF about 100000. ILg situation tho HudsOu
was such as 10 furnish an unobStrUcted view Tor
twenty miles up anu down tie river. On the urst
noOr OF the house were the Llni8 s-haL, pantry,
Kitchen and blnard-r0Om; on the second hOOr were
tle Library pdrior studio, dra"inS-roOm ana
guests chamber the TWO upper hOors were divided
INTO bedrooms. he Interior of the house was
finished throughout in hare, wood. IL was IN every
respect an artist home ut. Chapman pronounced
IL 10 DC ne most beautiful residence ne uau ever
seen either III this country OF IN Europe. There
were IN all about twenty rooms, complete II all
their details and ARRANGEMENTS The STYLE VI aTChl-
lecture of the house. Mr. Chapman thought, must
have been original with Mr.. Blerstadt. l. was here
that John l. Raymond IN order 20 t1mlllarlze NM
self ~ th scenes IN the play, sta led his part III
" olferts R0osl," the scene and plot OF when are
laid near Washington Iryiugs old home, view of
which could be had from Mn Bierstadts mansion
he house, Mt Chapman sad, was furnished III
q handsome manner. CurlOstlcs that mad been
collected by Mr. Bierstadt in bis frequent travels,
ana thar can never be replaced, adorned the walls
and Mante!pleces OF almost every room There
were indian relies gathered IN the far West during
Mr; BlerstadPs travels. TomaAawks and knives
Indian weapons OF every kind, blankets trlnkets
ana specimens OF Indian workmanship maze up :
large and valuable collection. Several full suits OF
armOr adorned the walls OF the larger rooms. Ia
the studio thCre was what might DC expected IL an
artists hOme-a largo and valuable collection OF
paintings etchings, draw ngs and engravingS UT.
Chapman Thought the loss on the pictures would be,
at low figure, $4,000. Nearly all OF Mr. BIER
stadts pictures we're stored ID the studio, the door
OF which was usually locked, As Mr.. Chapman and
hls family had no Use Tor that part OK the bualh8
Mr. Chapman had been In the studio many times III
company with Mr. Berstadt, TO see the curiosltc5
and paintings stored therein. Among Otuci thlIgS
IN the studio a large collection OF original
drawings aud cravOn sketches. The walls Of the
studio were hung hickiy With products OF Mt Bier
stadrs brush. The northern and eastern aiue5 were
OF glass 10 admit the light. The other rooms 81 the
mouse, well as the studio, contained many cnoce
paintings and eugrayngs There was also IN the
house u hne collection OF DroLZes, estimated Dy MI
Chapman 10 have been worth az least TlOOOO
one choice piece Of bronze represented an
artist at work 40 a painting on Ms easel
Mr. Blerstadt had tine collection OF Swiss ,WoIA'
feet long and . feet h!gh OF elaborate ana eIesah
workmanship, on ,he body OF tine wood work or
which "a beautiful landscape was reprrSeht'u'
several OF the burned pictures were scenes Al ne
vicinity Of the Rocky Mountains and Yosemite
Valley. The floors o. the house were covered "ith
handsome Turkish rugs. Mr. chapman inou2h1
thai aside from the pccunlary loss go Mt blersidd
the destruction of his house must nave been j
severe blow % him. because his heart was centred
on that place and Il was scource OF pleasure anu
Oh pride to him Mr. Chapman ascfDed Iue IRE w.
detective hues. lie had had some ,rouOic WIN
them during his residence there.
TALK WITH MR. DIERSTADE
Mr. Bierstadt was seen last evening Oy IRIB-
UNE reporter in his studio IN IhIrty-second-
st. and Broadway. He had been at Irving
ton 20 see the ruins Of his once beautiful home and
20 earn the particulars of the conHagration'
but was unable 10 satisfy bis mind as to
tho cause of the fire. In the absence
OF ais insurance policies, which were down town. he
wac unable TO speak accurately about his loss mas
much az he was thrown entirely on his memory
concerning tn. contents Of the buildings His best
estimate was that his loss would be about
$4,000 in gross, or from @3o'OOO
10 $4,000 above bis insurance Ihe
building had cost him 100000 the furniture, he
thought including his carriage, but not including
the contents OF his studio. might be valued sum
GENTLY high at $4,000 Most Of the pictures hung
throughout the house were saved, 0ut every ming
10 the studio was destroyed lie ehuneii
as as follows G sunset in California, by feet,
valued at 70. goo; d" Glen Ellis Falls feet hlgh
by 2la feet portrait Of j. B. Irving the artist
THE Wetterhornp Autumn In the W hte Noun
tains" Interior Of Roman Villa " scene Oh tAs
PemlgewasSett" Moonlight in California fQreSt,
Coast scene at Newport and - sunset at Water
vile \ ~ All these were finished Isl ,t and - TeFs
painted by himself OF the worAs OF othf 5, ErlSyS
Parry. coast srene BY Baron Gqidin, coast scene
at Newport by Hazelne Head Of C@sv1b al y
0erteI. "Gr0tto at Egera," by II. Ludwig; two
pictures. sheep and chickens, by Leemputteni
New-HampshlIe scene BY 4. L. Gerry and a land
scape i'm Westphalla by Achenbach
Mr. Berstadt could only remember two COM