Sea Island Life Magazine Fall/Winter 2013 | Page 44

COURTESY OF THE JEFFERSON HOTEL

COURTESY OF THE MANOOGIAN COLLECTION

Bob tagatz, historian at the Grand Hotel for
18 years, describes just how special the arrangement is. “the building itself is 126 years old,” he
says. “we have 672 employees—an employee
for every two guests, and seriously the single
greatest gift to the hotel is this art collection.
we always say good neighbors lend you sugar.
… well, great neighbors lend you part of a priceless art collection.
California to see individual pieces because they
are in private collections and they’re not out for
the public; they’re not reproduced for millions
to own. like a birdwatcher who collects birds,
people come out just to see one of these paint-

The Jefferson Hotel
as its name implies, the Jefferson Hotel in
richmond, Va., honors one of our most popular
founding fathers. the hotel was opened in 1895
by self-made millionaire Maj. lewis Ginter, a
beloved citizen of richmond who dreamed of

The Pierre
exuding european grace and exclusivity, the
Pierre has endured a rather tumultuous history
in new York City. foreclosure, untimely deaths,
oil tycoons, co-ops—the Pierre has seen it
all. following its most recent acquisition and
restoration by taj Hotels resorts and Palaces
between 2007 and 2010, the iconic neo-Georgian hotel has come into its own again.
Chatterjee, the Pierre’s art collection centers

Edward V. Valentine’s life-sized, marble rendering of Thomas Jefferson stands in the lobby of
The Jefferson Hotel.

THE ART OF THE CLOISTER
WALKING TOUR
Start the tour in the Colonial Lounge.
Take in some history and view the portrait of Howard Coffin—the man who,
together with A.W. Jones Sr., started it all.
While in the lounge, glance at Jim Jones’
“Road in the Woods” and Fabbio Fabbi’s
“Quiet Beauty.”
Next, head to the River Bar, where
bucolic images by contemporary favorites Janet Powers and West Fraser line
the walls.
From there, a corridor leads to the
Solarium murals by Prudence Carter. “Road in the Woods” by Jim Jones, in The Cloister
After time in the Solarium, peruse a collection of paintings by Frank P. Corso and Knute Heldner in the hallway that leads to the
Spanish Lounge, where portraits of Howard and Matilda Coffin hang. Painted by Christophe
Goodstein for the reopening of The Cloister, these are replicas of the portraits painted by
Frank O. Salisbury that hang in Howard Coffin’s former residence on Sapelo Island.
Next, explore the perimeter of the Georgian Room lounge. Look for works by contemporary
artist Scott Christensen before heading through a corridor into the Georgian Room, where
still lifes and Adrien Jacques Sauzay’s “A Day’s Washing” steal the show. Those lucky enough
to experience the wine cellar may gaze upon Albert Meyering’s “Classical Landscape With
Figures” and Carl Albrecht’s “Still Life With Plate of Fruit” before concluding the tour in the
Oglethorpe Room. Ten vibrant works by Janet Powers and a handful of French, Flemish and
Belgian tapestries should sate art appetites—for now.
For even more about the collection, pick up a copy of “The Art of The Cloister” from
the concierge.

COURTESY OF HARLAN HAMBRIGHT

displayed on the Mezzanine level of the
hotel, overlooking the Grand staircase and the
rotunda lobby, the presidential art collection
consists of 18 works—all reproductions of originals that at one time were housed at the Virginia
Historical society. six works are ornately
framed portraits of thomas Jefferson, each
created by a different artist. as a striking centerpiece for the upper Palm Court lobby, Ginter
commissioned sculptor edward V. Valentine
to create a life-sized image of Jefferson from
Carrara marble. the statue cost $12,000 and
took two years to complete. Valentine was able
to borrow clothing actually worn by Jefferson,
which he copied for the statue.
in addition to the presidential collection,
“the soap Bubbles” by american painter
elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau still hangs
in its original location in the library of
lemaire restaurant. the painting was exhibited at the world’s Colombian exposition in
Chicago in 1893 before being purchased for
the hotel by Ginter.

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