Hillwood

When in Washington, DC a couple weeks ago I was faced with the decision:  museum or mansion?
Hmm... I love both, but mansion with gardens will win out (almost) every time.  Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Post's home about 3 miles from Dupont Circle is a must see!

Heiress, businesswoman, diplomat, philanthropist, and collector, MMP at 27 became the sole heir of the Post Cereal Company fortune.  She moved into Hillwood in the mid 50's.  The 25 acre estate was to be a place where she could showcase her growing collections for friends, charities, and organizations.  The interior design firm French and Co. and McMillian Inc. remodeled and enlarged the home.

In the 30's MMP lived in Russia with her 3rd husband.  She became passionate about the Russian Imperial arts.  Her collecting began in Moscow, but lasted throughout her life.  It grew into one of the finest collections of Russian art as well as French decorative art in the world. 

The grand entrance is positively regal.  A czar would feel comfortable here!

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This passion for the arts was formed in Manhattan in the early 1920's as she was moving in the powerful circles of prominent businesspeople and art collectors.  "Once the desire is there and the seeds of the thrill of the search are sown the collector is on his way," she said.  MMP had an innate style and deep appreciation for beauty.

Hillwood was designed to be used as a museum as well as a home.  There are so many magnificent things to look at, and MMP wanted to share everything well beyond her life.

There are several Faberge eggs and thousands of small precious objects in the Icon Room.

The Chalice for the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 1791.  Empress Catherine the Great had it made for the newly constructed cathedral.  It is one of the most important icons in the Liturgical room.

There's also a room dedicated to Porcelain

The music room or home theatre, one of the first, was lined with lilac velvet walls, and throughout Hillwood the attention to detail did not go unnoticed.

the placement of furniture was taken very seriously

Some of Marjorie's favorite jewels are housed there as well.  I love that the emerald pieces were displayed in the bedroom while outside in the hall hangs this painting of her wearing it with her daughter, Dina Merrill.

This little silver and brass sign hangs on each guest room door. Open it to tell others, "Do not disturb ~ resting"

The outside garden design functions as an extension of the house.  Marjorie and her team created outdoor rooms, each having their own distinct character.  From every window there was something magnificent to see.

A greenhouse and cutting garden supply the home with flowers to this day

There's even a little pet cemetery.

Perry Wheeler, known for the White House rose garden, adapted Hillwood's rose garden for Marjorie.
This would become her final resting place beneath the obelisk, amongst all that she loved.

If you love fabulous homes, decorative arts, and lush gardens~put Hillwood on your "must see" list of things to do while in Washington.
Don't even get me started on the Japanese garden.  That's a whole other post.  There were outer buildings, each with their own distinct personality.  The exhibition by Isabelle de Borchgrave that I raved about here was in the Adorandack building and throughout.


ph: courtesy of Hillwood and CLI

Monet's Inspiration

"My most beautiful work of art is my garden" 

Bridge over a pond of  Water lilies , 1899

     

The Monet exhibit at The New York Botanical Gardens is a feast for the senses.  It is as close to Giverny as I have gotten.  The NYBG recreated the famous waterlily pond and Monet's perennial garden (to the best of their ability) that so inspired Claude Monet's most well known landscapes.

Monet's flower gardens have figured into approximately 40 of his works of art ~ his water garden, the centerpiece of the property, to no fewer than 250 of his known 2,500 paintings.

It was interestingly curated.  We learn about Giverny; the time, the toil, and what it took to build and grow the gardens; then how it influenced his art ~ or did his art then influence his gardens, the combinations, and the plantings?

Monet said he owed becoming a great painter to his flowers.

Nympheas (Waterlilies) 1915

If you want to learn more about waterlilies text NYBG waterlily to 56512 for gardening tips.  I liked the  interactivity to the  exhibit.  I downloaded the free app from iTunes; it was a nice marriage of info between the paintings and the gardens, along with the history of Giverny.  I walked away with a really good understanding of the importance the flowers played inspiring one of the greatest impressionistic artists of all times.

Monet chose flowers that complemented the pink stucco exterior of the home at Giverny.  The vines climbing up the walls and the green shutters were thoughtfully chosen to compliment that facade.

Garden Path at Giverny, 1902

The alée pathway, was a unique combination of 18th C. English landscape design:  planting profusions of flowers in interesting combinations, and the stricter 17th C. French practice similar to André Le Nôtre where symmetry reigns.   Deep colors were planted at the front of the beds and they got progressively lighter in an effort to create depth.  Interestingly, the water garden was cultivated in the opposite way.  It has strong Asian influences and appears to spring naturally from the earth.

Young Girl in the garden in Giverny, 1888

"Don't you find that one does better when all alone with nature?

I myself am convinced of it"

~ C. Monet

Agapanthus, 1918-1926

The exhibit is running through October.  I may have to go back to see the fall colors as well.  Monet always made sure there was interesting color no matter the season.  I tried that, but failed.  My garden seems to have two colors, green and brown.