Easton Neston, however, works its magic on a much smaller scale. Though the room dwelling, about an hour northwest of London, appears to be only two stories high, it is laced with mezzanines that provide four levels of living space, totaling about 32, square feet. Two exceptional British allies joined him in what turned out to be a three-year renovation.
One was Ptolemy Dean, a traditionalist architect recently named Surveyor of the Fabric at Westminster Abbey, an advisory position that, neatly enough, was once held by Hawksmoor. Henrietta got miffed at me at the time, but she was a natural for this commission.
By Charlotte Eagar. Updated: GMT, 13 March Leon Max right in the first picture with his gamekeeper-cum-head groundsman Roy Goodger far left. Katia Elizarova right is a model and face of Leon's fashion line. She was spotted at the age of At the end of a long green alley stands a mini-Versailles, nine windows wide, approached by a pair of billowing stairs. The house was built in , by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor.
Easton Neston was built in , by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. Unusually for such an exquisite piece of architecture, it's never been open to the public. Max, or Leonid Maxovitch Rodovinksi, is one of a clutch of rich Russians buying up chunks of Britain. During the shooting season the house is stuffed with chic guests — including the Earl and Countess of Albemarle and society actress Georgina Rylance. The formal gardens at Easton Neston.
I like the lifestyle and the country. The history. The culture, which London is full of. The country pursuits,' said Leon. For the moment Max, however, is nowhere to be seen. Nor is anyone else; Roy aside, no visible or audible staff.
There are no family photographs on the French ormolu tables. No Mrs Max: Max is twice divorced and his only daughter, Sophie, he tells me later, is 24 and lives in Portland, Oregon. Max walks into the drawing room. Max is very different from other rich Russians. Unlike the oligarchs, he did not hack his fortune from the Darwinian bloodbath that followed the collapse of communism.
I told you. I have an audition this afternoon. I have my life. As it is perfectly in my image it is difficult not to develop tenderness. But in the myth Pygmalion and his creation live happily ever after. Instead of changing planes in Vienna, he claimed political asylum. The sale of Lord Hesketh's year-old fortune has caused friction among family members who fear the former Tory treasurer and chief whip sold off important heirlooms.
Some of the family were so concerned last week that they joined the ranks of public bidders gathered at the family seat of Easton Neston in Northamptonshire for the three-day sale of the 1, paintings, furniture and objets d'art.
Lord Hesketh's brother Johnny and two cousins are believed to have tried to keep the heirlooms in family hands by making anonymous bids. Toys and sports equipment are thought to have been bought by cousins who still treasure memories of playing with them between the wars. The day will include: A breakfast, of eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding and bubble and squeak. Then there's elevenses with pork pie and spirits, followed by a black tie dinner, champagne, port stilton and more.
Say a Chateau Margaux to go with the lamb? A second later the butler scuttles back off down one of the house's endless corridors and one is left with the feeling of having met the white rabbit from Lewis Carroll's Alice and Wonderland. So, I think this probably the most normal set up he's seen so far,'' he chortles. The Gettys may be famous for their massive wealth and love of art but Easton Neston itself would put many museums to shame.
The interior has been so sympathetically redecorated it's hard to believe at first that Max bought the house after it had been stripped of its contents. One thing he did manage to get his hands on though, is a huge hunting scene attributed to Sir Peter Paul Rubens which hangs majestically above the fireplace in the drawing room flanked by similarly impressive works by Samuel Scott and Luca Giordano.
For all the riches in the world, Max cuts a lonely -- if elegant -- figure in this former baronial hall. The twice-divorced father of one doesn't even have a dog.
0コメント