The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-13
MR.. WHITNEY'S NEW HOME
A MODERy PALACE or RARE dRTIS-
TIC BEdUTY.

Famous Show Places of Europe Levied
tpo for Its chief Interior Decorations
Mr.. whitney to Open the Mansion
Tonight with u Dinner to Fellow
Trustees Of Museum Natural History.
William G. Whitney Is to open tonight with a
dinner to tho trustees Of the American Museum
of Natural History his new residence at tho
northeast corner OF SiNty-eighth street aud
Fifth avenue. The house was built by the
late Robert Stewart but has been for
several years In Mr.. Whitney's possession.
Since that time 1t has been so COM
pletely remodelled that only the original
walls remain. The dinner last night was
served In the ballroom. The table was beauti-
fully decorated with ferns and American Beauty
and Mermet roses. Tiny electric lights glowed
among the plants. and balls OF greenery. through
which shone pink and white lights. hung from
the ceiling Of the ballroom and the dining
room, The greens In the conservatory were
Illuminated In the sam fashion. Alter dinner
the annual trustees meeting OF the Museum
was held. II is customary for one OF the trus-
tees 10 entertain the board annually at dinner.
Mr.. Whitney took that privilege this year In
order to throw open his new home
Much has been heard OF the beauty OF this
new house. which is said to exceed that OF any
other in tho United States. McKim. Mead *
White. under whose supervision the changes
were made. have been at work for several
years. 1t is said that Sl.00O,0OO was ex-
pended on the decoration OF the two lower floors
which were exhibited yesterday. Mr.. Whitney
said that he selected the Italian renais-
and that he never would have done so
IL he had known the difficulties Of the work.
Al the decorations had to be brought from
Hi no lnn nt1 hhf H. ifHnn n.Iin "
But the result has been to reconstruct In New
York a palace OF the Italian renaissance which
Is beautiful in the most artistic sense OF the
The entrance Of the house. which Ia now on
sixty.eiehth street. leads down ? flight ohmar-
Bile steps to a broad. low hall, Through a
wants quarters. on Fifth avenue are Mr..
Whitney's Office, and a reception room done IN
rocco fashion. with g%rtlllng, OF gold on mir
way leads to the. main hall, which
occupies a quarter OF the main floor, Tbs
Italian tapestries that are said TO be the most
valuable In this country. The ceiling came
fG9I n in sar sSnsen p ssnSF.l IN o, fbII0 ne ssd f la l.
elaborateiiy' carved white marble and is famous
II I1a fhs history sas c1% 4i a a}recgIy fr5 arc Pafisl ( wI heis
ing stairway in white marble leads upt to the
living rooms.
Dn the Fltth avenue Slue OF the mouse on lne
main floor are a drawing room and library The
former Is hung in gold and maroon silk and
velvet tapestry brought from u Florentine
palace. The drapery covers the, walls
except for the spaces occupied by the
Hofner's The Dancing Girl Adjoining
this room Is the library, Superb carved
black oak bookcases are about tho. walls
which. above them, are hung in red velvet
tapestry trimmed with gold, The mantei IL OF
delicately-carye white marble, The walls OF
the dining room. which also boasts q ceiling
from the Barberini palace. are entirely covered
with paintings brought from a palace outside
OF Genoa.
The conservatory Is decorated with marbles
brought from an Italian garden, and leads
from the dining room into the ballroom.
which is the most beautiful apartment in the
house. The walls as they stand came iron the
chateau OF Phubus d'Albert near Bordeaux,
1t was built in the time OF Louis NV. by this
noblcman. who was one OF his favOrites. In
the time Of Louis Philippe the walls. which
are Of polished oak eXlnisitely decorated IN a
design OF gold, were brought to Paris. The
decorated ceiling alone is new. The dark
brown OAK, with the gold decorations, contrast
exquisitely with the draperles OF light maroon.
/, is said to be the most beautiful ballroom in
the country. II is approached not only through
the dining room and conservatory. but by a
long hall done in varicolored woods, and i'm
ported to this country from an Italian palace.