Winter Garden at Henri Samuel's country house Montfort l'Amaury as illustrated by Jeremiah Goodman
As you may know, I am busy at work on my next book which I couldn't be more excited about. It is on the decorating master Henri Samuel whose career spanned most of the 20th century and whose clients included the Rothschilds, fashion designer Valentino, Jayne Wrightsman, the royal chateau de Versailles, and… you get the idea.
After coming across this photograph of the designer with Ingrid Bergman at his country house, I thought perhaps the actress was also his client. My new theory is that Bergman consulted Samuel while researching her role in the 1961 film Goodbye Again, in which Bergman plays a decorator in a love triangle with Yves Montand and Anthony Perkins. Read more about the film on The Peak of Chic (whose post sparked this hypothesis). I haven't found further confirmation in the Bergman archives at Wesleyan but I haven't given up.
Can't you imagine the dishy stories Samuel might have shared with Bergman that weekend in these rooms?
Credit: Last two photos from the Architectural Digest book International Interiors
4 comments:
Emily,
I anxiously await the publication of your latest, greatest tome on le capitaine, M. Sanuel. It is sure to become a classic among every interior design afficiandos collection. Work hard and fast - don't keep us waiting!
Warmest,
CW
So will you feature images from the private photo album by Samuel and client for Bel Air...a much beloved jewel incorporating period boiseries, extensive art and furniture collections, creating a mise en scene like no other.
Thank you for the moral support, Cristopher. And Swan, you have an excellent library! I was lucky enough to visit that Bel Air house a few months ago and look forward to including it in the book. As you know, it truly is a Samuel masterpiece - he even got to edit the roof!
I am a big H. Samuel fan and look forward to your new book! It is time.
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