It occurs to me that I’ve never talked up the Huntington at Risky Regencies!
If you’re ever in the Los Angeles area, you need to visit the Huntington…which includes the Huntington Library, the Huntington Gardens, and the Huntington Art Collections.
I was there yesterday showing my sister around, and thinking how any Regency fan would love it.
To start with: imagine owning the library pictured above!
Not too shabby.
And as for art…
it has Gainsborough…
Lawrence…
Romney…
Reynolds…
Turner…
Constable…
The most famous of its holdings include Gainsborough’s Blue Boy, from 1770…
And the painting nicknamed “Pinkie,” painted by Lawrence in 1794.
Visitors, by the way, like to fancy that Blue Boy and Pinkie are a couple.
Certainly they stare at each other across the gallery with great fixity…
Walk around the art galleries for long enough,
and you will also stumble across people like Emma Hamilton,
and the great actress Sarah Siddons.
I also saw the Duchess of Devonshire today.
And if you like French art, you can find Boucher, Watteau, Fragonard, Greuze…
And as for the Huntington Library displays, there are first editions of Byron, Burns, and a bunch of other beautiful brilliant books…
Ah, to be a fabulously wealthy railroad magnate in the early 20th century! That’s the sort of luxury I could get used to.
So…have any of you ever visited the Huntington? (Do you all promise to, the next time you’re in the LA area?) Do you particularly like any of the artists mentioned here?
And speaking of the Duchess of Devonshire, has anyone here seen the movie THE DUCHESS yet, or plan to soon? (In other words, how long should we wait until we discuss it here at Risky Regencies?)
All answers welcome!
Cara
Cara King, who also loves the gardens
Hi Cara, I love the Huntington Library. I made my ex take me when I used to visit him in Los Angeles. The gardens are beautiful as is the museum. As for The Duchess, I have seen it and blogged about it over at Scandalous Women. I think now that the movie is in wide release, it might be time for a discussion here at the Riskies.
I’m putting the Huntington down on my list of Places to See Someday (growing though not as quickly as Books I Must Read Someday).
As for The Duchess, it is finally playing locally but I haven’t had the time to get out and see it. Too much family stuff going on during the long weekend. I hope to see it by this weekend at the latest, though.
Thanks for telling us about the Huntington, Cara. It sounds wonderful.
I saw the Duchess yesterday… I’d love to talk about it.
Hooray for discussing The Duchess. I’m waiting.
If I’m ever in the LA area, I’d request a tour from you, Cara. Perhaps, we could have a Riskies Visit LA trip and also travel up the coast to check out that white castle (that looks like Neuchwenstein).
I love all those artists, and if I’m ever in LA will definitely visit the Huntington (if you’ll be my tour guide!)
I’d love to discuss The Duchess! (I enjoyed the movie quite a bit more than I expected to…) Maybe next Tuesday? 🙂
I want to goooooooooo!!! The Huntington sounds marvelous. I would love to see the paintings. I’m all for that Risky Regencies field trip, Keira!
I hope to see The Duchesss soon, not this week, though.
Haven’t seen The Duchess yet, but I really want to. The Huntington sounds incredible. I could wile away a few days there!
I am a huge fan of Turner. I just love those incredible landscapes.
Hey, sign me up for a Riskies Road Trip! Should we go by plane, train, automobile or carriage?
Yes, you must all visit, and I’ll take you all to the Huntington!
Keira, I confess I don’t even know what castle you mean! Do you know where it is, or what it’s called?
Louisa, let’s go by carriage, definitely!
Cara
Cara, how are you doing??? Just saw on the news Gov. Arnold talking about the LA fires.
I was refering to Hearst Castle…that beautiful white set of buildings.
Diane, I’m thinking a Riskies tour is in the offing…
Ah, yes, Keira! I love Hearst Castle. (I just never realized it was influenced by Neuschwanstein!)
And I’m fine — I’ll always be fine! Unless maybe there’s an earthquake. But any other natural disaster (e.g. wildfires, mudslides) won’t get me — those only get folks who live in the hills.
Cara
Cara, glad to know you’re OK. You’re used to this. Every year, I panic and send you one of these I-am-totally-freaked-out notes, and every year you say that you’re fine and why, and then the next year, I forget again. 🙂
The Huntington is one of my very favorite places. Between the gardens, the art, the rare books, and the afternoon tea (can’t forget that!), there is far more to do than one can manage in a day.
We are lucky, in that we live so close we can go over and take a walk whenever we like.
If any of you venture out in this direction, we’ll happily give you a tour!
Todd-who-plans-to-retire-there-after-he-makes-his-billions-on-time-machines
and every year you say that you’re fine and why, and then the next year, I forget again. 🙂
Don’t worry, Keira, everyone does that! Including our relatives. 🙂
BTW, I really mean it when I say if any of you are in the area, I’d love to show you round the Huntington!
Cara
I love the Huntington Library and Hearst Castle. My husband came from LA and we visited in-laws often after we married. Then they moved away and we lost our regular reason to go. My m-i-law gave me miniatures of Blue Boy and Pinkie.
I’m hoping to see the Dutchess (as it was spelled in our local paper) sometime this weekend. Finally arrived.