Gilded Age Irony - Hearst Castle. While so many of the residential - TopicsExpress



          

Gilded Age Irony - Hearst Castle. While so many of the residential designs of the Gilded Age are firmly rooted in the logical principles of the Beaux Arts, or at least common sense, San Simeon seems unencumbered by such discipline. On a recent trip to the West Coast my family there took me to visit Hearsts abode. When a docent recounted the interminable changes and alterations in Julia Morgans design demanded by Hearst, it not only explained the results but overturned the cliche of the ditzy Helen Hokinson type of society lady constantly hectoring her male architect! To be fair, there are inspired parts of the ensemble, the library and the morning room being especially appealing, but the whole does lack coherence. If you get the opportunity, do visit Greystone in Beverly Hills, a far more attractive and representative example of Gilded Age grandeur.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:01:04 +0000

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