On The Road With Doll And SchultenoverThe salon is in the Barberini summer home which the Society purchased ca. 1900 and converted into a retreat house (years ago when I was doing research in the nearby Jesuit archives, I recall reading about the transaction carried out by Fr. General Luis Martín). In 1953 it became the House of Writers and the Historical Institute. A couple years ago the Historical Institute moved into the westernmost section of the curia near the curia library (which incorporated the library of the Historical Institute) and the archives building, recently constructed in the southern embankment of the curia gardens. There no longer is a House of Writers. The structure, renamed Residenza San Pietro Canisio, now houses the province infirmary (ground floor) and those who work in Vatican Radio.
Just to be clear about these photos: This is the only room in the house so painted. The rest is spartan by US standards, but clean. No rugs on the floors, not even in the bathrooms. Just tile. No artwork in the rooms, unless the inhabitants put it up — something we visitors are unlikely to do, or be allowed to do — and almost no artwork in the common areas. I shudder to think of what might have been destroyed when the Society converted the Barberini home to a retreat house — although almost certainly by 1900 the murals and other interior artwork would have needed extensive restoration, which the Society could ill afford. It’s also likely that the previous owners and inhabitants had not preserved the original artworks.
Just to be clear about these photos: This is the only room in the house so painted. The rest is spartan by US standards, but clean. No rugs on the floors, not even in the bathrooms. Just tile. No artwork in the rooms, unless the inhabitants put it up — something we visitors are unlikely to do, or be allowed to do — and almost no artwork in the common areas. I shudder to think of what might have been destroyed when the Society converted the Barberini home to a retreat house — although almost certainly by 1900 the murals and other interior artwork would have needed extensive restoration, which the Society could ill afford. It’s also likely that the previous owners and inhabitants had not preserved the original artworks.
Read the full article and see the pictures (here)
Do not Doll and Schultenover remind you a little of Hope and Crosby?
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