ornate, is most interesting, as it shows both Muslim and
Christian iconography, reflecting a more tolerant time
before the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of
Muslims and Jews from Spain by the Admiral’s grandson,
Ferdinand. Donated to and purchased from the
Convent of Santa Clara in Palencia, the burial place of
the admirals of Castile, the carpet is bordered in Kuficstyle
Arabic script.
On another wall, atop a more modern organ, is a painting
of the Holy Family from the 1600s, which has been
cut in half and reconfigured to make doors that provide
access to (and conceal) the organ pipes behind it.
Made of plaster that looks like wood beams, the room’s
16th century ceiling rises 25 feet high specifically to accommodate
the large Renaissance fireplace mantel, one
of the most expensive items in the home. It was taken
from a French castle, Chateau de Chenonceaux, begun
but left unfinished by Catherine de Medici.
In the center of the room, flanked by two 18th century
chairs, sits a lovely Pietra Dura table thought to date
from the 1580s. (The process of intricate inlay, known as
Pietra Dura, originated in 16th century Florence, Italy.)
With polished stones set in marble, the square table is
decorated with a geometric pattern.
The Banquet Hall features large tapestries, including a
pair of 16th century Flemish works, each approximately
16.5 x 6 feet that once hung in Casa Guidi, the home of
Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning in Florence.
While most of the artistic elements at Vizcaya fall into
the architectural or decorative arts categories, paintings
and sculptures can also be found throughout the estate.
Most paintings were acquired before 1920 under
Deering’s patronage. However, in the 1980s, 34 works
were donated. Since the provenances of these works,
which were purchased in the 1950s, are uncertain, they
are currently part of Vizcaya’s Nazi-era Provenance
Research Project, which aims to return art works acquired
or looted between 1932 and 1945 to their rightful
owners. Images of these works can be found on the
Vizcaya website.
Among the garden statues, busts and urns is a huge
fountain designed in 1722 by Filippo Barigioni
(1680-1753) who created the fountain in front of the
Pantheon in Rome. Perhaps the most striking of these is
the Barge by American sculptor Alexander Stirling
Calder (1870-1945). Actually a breakwater shaped like a
boat, it is decorated with mythical Caribbean creatures.
Vizcaya is unique in that it combined antiquities with
contemporary works. Visit the website to view a virtual
tour of the entire estate www.vizcaya.org.
Barbara Rizza Mellin is an award-winning artist and writer.
Her artwork was selected for the cover of the 2017 Flying South
literary magazine, sponsored by Winston Salem Writers.
Vizcaya Christmas carpet table. Photo provided by Vizcaya Vizcaya dining room's two tapestries
December 2017 www.ForSeniorsOnlyWS.com 17