National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
1906. The most drastic change was the removal of the Mowbray paintings. 656 The alterations
are documented by five drawings from 1906. 657 The changes included the addition of tin gables
in the fireplaces that partially obscure the firebacks. The overmantel ornament was added, and
the ceiling decoration reworked at edges to accommodate a change in the mantel depth. Four
tympana were added over the east and west windows. A new panel with molding was installed
over the door to the foyer. Drawing # 7 is a floor plan with only the notation "new work,"
indicating that the original chimney breast was widened to extend beyond the width of the
original mantel pieces. This would have required some alteration to the ceiling at these corners,
which was not documented in any available drawings. A thin picture rail around the room is
interrupted at all four east and west tympana panels and on the south wall at the spandrel
panels, as though these five paneled areas were replaced, and the picture rail was not
reinstalled. 658 All the gilded highlights including the cornice and ceiling trim were painted over
at this time. 659
The Living Room was used for a variety of different kinds of entertaining including
formal dances, 660 as it was the largest space available for this use. The Reception Room, which
was smaller and more formal in both concept and appearance, was not well liked by Mrs.
Vanderbilt who served tea to special guests in the Living Room. 661 More informal gatherings
took place in the Den. She preferred to use the west side of the Living Room, probably because
of the river view. 662 When Frederick and Louise were at Hyde Park there were two vases of
flowers on each refectory table, and one vase on the desk, one vase on the small table just to the
western side of the middle of the room. 663
The arrangement of the furniture during the Vanderbilt occupancy is not documented,
although there were probably few changes. The one area that remains puzzling is the eastern
side where there is now a five-seat sofa that was brought from storage. 664 The long refectory
table on this side floats in the room rather than being against the wall as at the eastern side,
necessitating electric plugs under the table. The date of this electrical work is not known. The
screen was placed closer to the doorway. 665
656 Two fragments of the mural survive at the mansion. Other pieces were given to the local theater
company where they were used as scenery and eventually destroyed. Mowbray supposedly donated the
sketch to the West Point Museum, but they have no record of this. See letters Archives of American Art
from Mowbray to West Point.
657 Drawing # 6, 1/4 Scale Details of Living Room, # 7, 1/4 Scale Plan of Living Room, #8, South
Elevation, #9, East and West Elevations, no #, East and West Elevations.
658 The physical description of the Living Room and its changes is largely based on Peggy Albee's notes,
and I thank her for sharing them with me.
659
Paint tests by Peggy Albee.
660
Historian Research Notes File, Series V.C. Vanderbilt Mansion. Card 1048 cites interview with Mr.
Martin.
661
Historian Research Notes File, Series V.C. Vanderbilt Mansion. Card 1039 cites interview with Mr.
Martin.
662 Bruguiere, 1948
663 Knauss, List of Flower Arrangements.
664 The five-seat sofa was not in the Living Room according to the 1938 inventory. It does appear in the
1940 inventory. There may have been another piano in the Living Room, although it is not recorded in
the 1938 inventory.
665 Bruguiere, 1948. Craig Jessup has suggested the following room arrangement: The five-seat sofa was in
storage. (It does not appear in this room in the 1938 inventory). In that place should be the long table
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