Description
Book SynopsisKykuit-the country home of John D. Rockefeller Sr., John D. Rockefeller Jr., Nelson A. Rockefeller, and their families-stands majestically atop a hill overlooking the Hudson River. Built between 1906 and 1913 by architects Delano and Aldrich, it has just recently been opened to the public. But visitors will never see the estate in as intimate a way as it is presented in this volume. To preserve the memory of what Kykuit was like when it was a private home, photographer Mary Louise Pierson, granddaughter of Nelson Rockefeller, spent years photographing the estate: the Big House-as family members call the main residence-and its interiors, designed by the renowned Ogden Codman; the outbuildings, including the Coach Barn, which now houses an impressive collection of horse-drawn carriages and an equally noteworthy collection of vintage cars, the orangery, and the Playhouse, a Tudor-style mansion containing an indoor swimming pool, tennis court, fully equipped gym, and bowling alley; and
Trade Review
"[B]eautiful and fascinating ... like having one's own personal, behind-the-ropes tour... By sharing this incredible estate, this generous family has provided us with a sense of grand possibilities that might otherwise remain unimaginable." --Antiques and the Arts "Photographer Pierson, Roberts's daughter, has taken beautiful pictures, each one advocating how wealth can lead to the development of beauty." --Library Journal This book ... is a treat before or after your tour... In fact, you will learn more from this book than any visit." --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Table of Contents
Photographer's Note / Acknowledgments 6 Introduction 8 The Big House 52 The Outbuildings 94 The Gardens 136 Rockefeller Family Tree 188 Visitor's Guide / Bibliography 190 Index 191
