Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-12-12
A New York Palace.

A New York Palace.
Mr.. Wizards new house, or rather
houses, occupies an entire block having a
frontage on Madison avenue of 200 feet
The part whic he will occupy is on the
corner of Fifty first street. Its frontage
is 60 feet and its depth 100 feet. Th'
her wing will he precisely similar
except that it is divided into three houses,
and between the two wings is court 80
feet in width and 73 feet in depth, That
portion of the building b ok Of the cour
extends back 40 feet beyond the wing and
is a double house of itself. In the cenle
of the court will be placed magniticen.
fountain, around which will he II broad
drive, and in each corner a grass plat
Each house will communicate directly
with the court The exterior of the
great building is more grand than beaul.
tul, it is the result of combination OF
Roman and Florentine architecture, plans
OF the Chancellera palace at Rome and
the Farnez palace being copied by the
architects. The material is Bellevllle On
J.) sandstone, the light greyish amber
stone of which Trinity church was built
Everything is massive, and there Is little
attempt at ornament. Huge blocks OF
stone are piled one upon ano her and
overtopped by Il heavy cornce OF the sam"
material. Entering the spacious portal OF
ne Willard residence, yorr correspondent
found himself in a magnificent reception
room IA feet by 2S in depth Everything
he,e was IN inlaid wood-hoor, ceiling,
walls and columns. On either side opened
he drawing rooms They are each 10 by
% feet, ana are being finished in mahoga-
nv, inlaid with light woods, satin wood
and maple being noticeable. Between
the pilasters will be hung rich embroidered
SUITS. The predominallng tores are
light reddish brown and light yellow.
The drawing rooms and reception rooms
are so arranged that they can be thrown
INTO one spacious apartment 100 feet in
width and 2S in depth. From the recep-
ton room Il hall IA feet in width and ~
IN length leads TO the music room. Alad-
din's lamp never revealed II hall more
magnificent. 1t is entirely in mosaic.
rbe material is yellow Italian marble
rhe floor is in chaillon marble in small
pieces woven into beautiful designs.
The mante is masterpiece OF the
sculptor from an Italian design, and the
whole apartment was executed by Italian
artists in the style of modern Pompeiian
palaces. The hall is spanned by three
emf circular arches in Sienna marble,
with sculpture by Louis St Gaudens. A
yestibule in the same design leads out OF
the hail, back of the drawing room. The
music room is the chief mnvre OF the
decor tor art. 1t is a diminutive theatre,
As ny q feet in dimension and ~ feet
rom floor to ceiling, extending 10 the
thnd story. 1t is in the style of the
Francis room of Fontainbeu place. The
colors are white and gold. A wainscoting
eight feet IN height, in carved pine, sur
rounds the room. At one end is II gallery
for the musicians The ceiling is an
ehiptical vault, and every detail shows the
skill of the artist. Between the music
room and vestibule marble stairs II feet
broad lead to the upper stories. Again
the tone is yellow. An elaborate renais
sance ceiling spans the stairs. An elevator
way occupies the remaining space. Across
the hall are tha main dining room and
breakfast room, which can be thrown into
one apartment 20 by 90 feet in SIZE
Carved woods again replace the marble.
rhe room is executed in English oak
inaid with mahog my. The ceiling is
divided with beams cased with English
oak. and the carved friezes, three feet in
width. arc inlaid with floral designs. The
two mantles are of red Varona marble.
and are copies of those which Mr.. Mead
was sent to Italy to select, but which
arrived in a somewhat damaged condition
and were presented by him to the museum
of art. Here also st Gaudens's skill is
seen. The upper stories ale in keeping
with the spendor below. although not so
elaborate. The general style is Italian
renaissance. The furniture will be espe
cially magnificent. That of the drawing
room will be upholstered and OF colors
harmonizlng with the decorations, the
reddish brown lone predomnating. 1t
was designed by the architects who exc
cuted the rooms. The other houses will
be finished in a style becoming their
pre,ensions, although nothing like this.
The cost OF the building unfurnished will
he an even million dollars. Of this
amount the decorations of the drawing
rooms cost $4,000; the dining rooms,
800 900: the hall, $30,000. and the music
rooms. $40 900. AS much more will be
expended on other work in the latter room
wear hence. To finish the interior OF
Mr.. Wizards house necessitates the eX-
penditure of $250,000. The upper floors
are now about completed and the furniture
is arriving. Mr. Wizards family will
occuoy them in TWO or thee weeks. and
the remainder OF the house will be finished
by midwintor. Mr.. Willard has disposed
of .be two houses in the main part of the
huildipg to Messrs. Holmes and Adams,
the wealthy railroad lawyers, who will
occupy them. The structure, when com
pleted, will be the most magnificent resi-
dence building in the country, far surpass
ing the Vanderbilt houses: 1t is the first
attempt made to reproduce an Italian
palace In America, and the architects are
| deservingly proud of their success. Henry
Wizards house may well be said 10 be
palatial 1t is palace in fact.