The Portland daily press., 1894-01-24
VANDERBlLT'S PALACE.
Description of the Handsomest Residence
in America.

1 standing on the site of the old one, aud
extending the full length of the block
between Fifty-seventh and Fifty -eighth
streets, on the west side of Fifth avenue,
| is practically finished. The process of
rebuilding and charging the old Van
derbilt mansion, has occupied period
of almost two years. MIR. Vanderbilt's
| object, so it is said, was to possess the
handsomest private residence in Ameri-
can.
Europe has been ransacked for the
hoicest statuary and bric-a- brac. Car
pets and furniture have been made on
special and exclusive designs by cele-
brated Partisan firm.
The exterior Of the house, which is of
red brick and gray stone, is rather con-
glomerate in style, and looks more like
that of public institution than a pri-
vate residence. The house is three
stories and an attic high, and was copied
after the Chateau du Blois public
building which stands in a small town
OF that name, a few hours ride from
Paris. a ten foot iron fence encloses
the entire building.
After passing through the great oak
doors, with the intricate geometrical
design, on Fifty-seveuth street, one en-
tiers vestibule OF white marble with an
arched ceiling. After mounting nine
steps the great hallway is reached. The
1lrst thing upon which the eye falls and
rests in admiration is a circular staircase
OF white marble, Italian Renaissance in
style.
The walls of the library above the
great bookcases are laid out in panels
and are also OF walnut. In the centre of
each panel is the same tapestry that
hangs at the doors and windows. The
furniture matches in wood and style the
character of the room. The browning
perfection OF this room, however, is the
mantelpiece, on either side of which are
two caryatides, or female figures, nine
feet high, in walnut, on whose broad
shoulders rests the ponderous mantel-
piece.
A door opening from this room leads
into anoher. salon or reception room,
and. after the heavy solidity of the libra
ry, this room sees like glimpse into
fairy land. 1t is Louis QuartOrze in
style. The walls, which are white, are
relieved by delicate touches of gold.
The ceiling, representing sky, through
which nymphs are travelling, their
means of locomotion being the clouds
upon which they repose in positions of
careful abandon, is the work of the
French artist Alare.
Next to this room and separated by a
satin portiere is a large salon, very SINH
lar to the smaller one. A white and gold
piano is beautiful feature of this room,
which is 40 feet wide by 60 feet long. On
every side great mirrors are imbedded in
the walls at convenient angles, to reflect
the brilliant scenes of which they will
soon be silent though expressive wit
nesses. $
The ballroom is indisputably the gem
of the house. This room is fashioned
after celebrated Partisan ballroom,
which it resem bles in every detail. 1t is
in white and gold and is distinctly LOUIS
Quatorze style.
The ceiling is double one, aud was
painted in Paris by NJ. Todoze. 1t rep
resents twenty or thirty nymphs being
waited through space by the curling
zephyrs on which they repose. Some of
them are playing upon various musical
Instruments.
Part of the decoration of the first cone
is shield, upon which are several cupids
playing upon musical instruments. At
either side of the shield is a decoration
in gilt effect representing music in
various forms. Resting on the cornices
on either side of the shield are TWO fig
ures of cupids, which stand out in bold
relief. Each one has boE', and is TAX
ing careful aim with his arrow which is
also pointed at the floor.
MIR. Vanderbilt's smoking room has
dome-shaped ceiling reaching beyond
the top of the second story The entire
room is a copy of the Alhamb bra at Gren-
ada, Spain. 1t is thirty-five feet square,
with an annex ten feet square. The dec
orations are Ara besoue and Moorish in
design. Stained glass windows are in
the top of the dome shaped ceiling, from
which is suspended, distance of fifteen
nooonifipant MnnriSh Ion IF
wrought-iron and vari-colored glass.
The colors i'll the decorations are blend
ing of blue, red, brown and gold. The
style is most elaborate rendition of
the Moorish.
Mrs. vanderbilt-s bedroom is Louis
Quatorze, and the boudoir Louis Seize
in style. The walls of the buodoir are of
the most delicate shade of old rose silk.
The Louis Seize doors are most elabor-
ate in design. The cornices over the
doorways are surmeunted by decoration
in gold and white, in the shape of horns
of plenty, and issuing from each end are
flowers A delicate old-rose carpet is
on the floor, and curtains of the utmost
delicate shade of the same color hang at
the windows and doors. The ceiling is
a dainty bit of painting, and was done
by Hebron.
The bedroom opening into the boudoir
is also in white and gold effect, the
prevailing color being old rose. The
furniture here is rosewood. A beauti-
full brass bed is gracefully draped with
old rose silk curtains. A bathroo n
opening from the bedroom is of onyx,
with white marble tubs.
The daintiest rooms in the mansion
belong to Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt
the young debutante, who, it is rum
ored, will give her coming out ball in
her fathers palatial home this winter.
This suite, which is just across hall
way, is all in white and blue, and Louis
Quatozre in style. There is no gilt here,
but delicate beauty, which even sur
passes that of Mrs. Vanderbilt's rooms.
The indian Painted Face.