Latest news with #Corinthian
Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Setting sail on the Orient Express: Yacht cruising starts next summer
Orient Express' first yacht, the 54-suite Orient Express Corinthian, will begin sailing the Mediterranean next June with three- to eight-night itineraries. Maxime d'Angeac, Orient Express' artistic director, designed the luxurious interiors of the Corinthian sailing yacht. Photo Credit: Orient Express Many of the sailings next summer focus on France and Italy, but some also will call in Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Montenegro or Malta. A couple of the cruises are timed to coincide with local events, including the Venice Film Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show. The earliest sailing currently available departs Marseille on June 6, 2026. The Corinthian will span 720 feet. Its smallest suites will be 484 square feet, and its largest will measure 2,476 square feet. They all include elements of wood, leather and marble. Each will have bay windows. An extendable marina at the sailing yacht's stern will offer the opportunity to relax at the water's edge. The yacht also will have a 55-foot lap pool. There will be five restaurants, eight bars, a cabaret, a movie theater and a spa. When propelled solely by wind, the Corinthian is expected to reach speeds of up to 19.5 miles per hour. Its sails will be rigid, each at 16,100 square feet, and the inclinable masts will be 328 feet. The Orient Express Olympian will be the Corinthian's sister ship and is scheduled to debut in 2027. The Corinthian will have five restaurants, eight bars, a cabaret, a movie theater and a spa. Photo Credit: Orient Express Orient Express said the yachts are generating high interest, particularly for charters, said vice president of sales and marketing Angela Composto. With the new cruises, luxury trains and the reborn hotel brand, Orient Express intends to establish a travel ecosystem for guests to move between land and sea. "Our ambition is for guests to immerse in the entire Orient Express experience linking train, hotel and sailing yacht experiences for a complete and seamless travel experience," the company said.
Business Insider
7 days ago
- General
- Business Insider
Grand staircases, state-shaped pools, and a bowling alley in the basement: Here's what the governor's mansion looks like in every state
The Alabama governor's mansion is in Montgomery. Alabama's 117-year-old state mansion, with a grand staircase and four Corinthian columns, has been the residence of the governor since 1951, according to the Office of the Alabama Governor. The mansion spans two floors and 8,500 square feet. In the 1970s, a state-shaped swimming pool, a guest house, and a water feature were added. The Alaska governor's mansion is in Juneau. The mansion was built for $40,000 in 1912. To deal with the cold, the 12,900-square-foot house has eight fireplaces for its 26 rooms. Above a winding staircase hangs a large painting of Russian emperor Peter the Great, who was responsible for Russia exploring Alaska. The painting has BB-gun bullets near Peter's eyes, and there has been a decades-long controversy over who pulled the trigger, local news channel KTUU reported. Since 1913, the mansion has opened to the public once a year for a tour at Christmas, according to Alaska's Office of the Governor. Arizona used to have a governor's mansion in Prescott. Arizona does not currently have a governor's mansion, but it did once. A 150-year-old log cabin on the Sharlot Hall Museum campus used to be the governor's mansion in Prescott. It was only used for about two years before the capital left Prescott, KJZZ Phoenix reported. The Arkansas governor's mansion is in Little Rock. The three-story mansion, a Georgian Colonial-style building, has been home to the state's governors since 1950. There was no official residence before this one. When it was opened to the public in 1950, 180,000 visitors toured it, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. The property is 8.5 acres, with six different gardens. Since 1989, the house received nearly $6 million to renovate and expand the house, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. It has antique Persian carpets, a 62-piece sterling silver service from the USS Arkansas, and a grandfather clock from Ireland made in the 18th century. Notable visitors who have stayed the night include former President Harry Truman and actor Gregory Peck. The house can be toured in person, or online. The California governor's mansion is in Sacramento. The three-story Victorian-style mansion was built in 1877. It has 30 rooms, Italian marble fireplaces, original wood floors, Persian rugs, and a kidney-shaped swimming pool, Curbed San Francisco reported. The governor's mansion took a break for almost 50 years when then-Gov. Ronald Reagan moved out, after his wife, Nancy, called it "a fire trap." From 1967 to 2015, it was a public museum, until Gov. Jerry Brown moved into the property after a $1.6 million renovation, the Los Angeles Times reported. Sacramento-born writer Joan Didion called the mansion "an enlarged version of a very common kind of California tract house." The Colorado governor's mansion is in Denver. The two-story mansion, known as "Colorado's Home," was built in 1908. It has 27 rooms and has been the official residence since 1960, according to its official website. The mansion features red brick and white trim, with mahogany woodwork and oak floors inside. It also has a Steinway piano signed by Liberace, The Colorado Sun reported. In 2014, one notable addition was the installation of a three-handle draft beer system, serving a rotating selection of local craft beers. When former Gov. John Hickenlooper was in office, he didn't always live there, and allowed cabinet members who lived far away to use it as a dormitory. One of those who took up the offer described the experience to The New York Times with the question, "Have you ever seen the movie 'The Shining'?" The Connecticut governor's mansion is in Hartford. The 15,000-square-foot, Georgian-style mansion was built in 1909 and has housed governors since 1945, according to Connecticut's Office of the Governor. It has 19 rooms, a greenhouse, a pool, and tall gates, which were built in 1971. The Delaware governor's mansion is in Dover. The Georgian-style mansion, known as Woodburn, was built in 1798 and has served as the state leader's official residence since 1965. It is one of the country's smallest governor's mansions at 3,584 square feet, with seven bedrooms. The Florida governor's mansion is in Tallahassee. The Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1956. It features a swimming pool, cabana, exercise room, greenhouse, and rose garden, according to the mansion's website. In October 2018, it was opened up to state troopers who were on their way to help areas damaged by Hurricane Michael. Fifty troopers had dinner, and 35 spent the night, CBS News reported. The Georgia governor's mansion is in Atlanta. The 24,000-square-foot mansion, built in 1967 in a Greek Revival-style, has 30 rooms and sits on an 18-acre property, Atlanta magazine reported. There is no key for the front door, since security is always present. Inside, it has a painting by Benjamin West and a signed, first-edition copy of "Gone With the Wind." The furnishings are thought to be worth more than the house. Public tours take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, according to the governor's office. The Hawaii governor's mansion is in Honolulu. The mansion pictured here was built in 1846 and was the Hawaii governor's mansion from 1959 to 2002, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. It was also home to Queen Lili'uokalani. Since 2002, Hawaii's governor has lived in a 5,000-square-foot home right behind the former mansion. It's called "Hale Kia'aina" meaning, "home of the governor," the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported. Idaho doesn't have a governor's mansion, although a billionaire once tried to donate one to the state. Idaho has had governors' mansions in the past. One home in Boise was sold in 1990 after the governor chose to live elsewhere due to the home's run-down condition, The Spokesman-Review reported. In 2004, J. R. Simplot, a billionaire who developed commercial frozen french fries, donated a hilltop mansion to the state, The Spokesman-Review reported. The house needed heavy renovations, and high maintenance costs for lawns prompted the state to give it back to the family in 2013. The home was later demolished. The Illinois governor's mansion is in Springfield. The 50,000-square- foot mansion, built in 1855, has housed every Illinois governor since it was finished, according to the Office of the Governor. The house has a ballroom, four formal parlors, and a library. It is the third-oldest governor's mansion still in use. In 2018, it was opened to the public after $15 million worth of renovations. The Indiana governor's mansion is in Indianapolis. The 10,500-square-foot mansion, built in the English Tudor style in 1928, has more than 20 rooms and sits on over 6 acres, according to the governor's office. It has been the official governor's mansion since 1973. The house was constructed with concrete reinforcements throughout, which isn't typical of English Tudor homes. It has two dining rooms, a sun porch, a pantry for butlers, and staff offices. The Iowa governor's mansion is in Des Moines. The mansion, called "Terrace Hill," was built in the 1860s, but it didn't become state property until 1971, the Des Moines Register reported. It takes Christmas especially seriously. For decades, every year, the residence is taken over for a day, and each room is decorated by different florists or organizations. In 2012, then-Gov. Terry Branstad and his wife had to move out when black mold was found in the house, Radio Iowa reported. Since cleared of health hazards, the house is open to tours from March to December, which can be booked on the state of Iowa's official website. The Kansas governor's mansion is in Topeka. The three-story French-style mansion, called "Cedar Crest," was built in 1928 for a newspaper owner. It has been the home to governors since 1962, according to the Kansas Historical Society. Cedar Crest is situated on 244 acres, with hiking trails, ponds, and gardens. From 1998 to 2000, $4.4 million was spent renovating the house. The Kentucky governor's mansion is in Frankfort. The 25-room Beaux-Arts-style mansion, built in 1912 and modeled after Marie Antoinette's home near the Palace of Versailles, has been the official residence of Kentucky's governors since 1914, according to the Commonwealth of Kentucky's official website. Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., and Queen Elizabeth II have all visited the mansion, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The Louisiana governor's mansion is in Baton Rouge. The 25,000-square-foot Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1963, taking inspiration from a plantation in the state, per the mansion's website. It sits on 8 acres, which includes a tennis court, a swimming pool, and vegetable and flower gardens, and it overlooks Capitol Lake. The house itself has three floors and features an elevator. Its grand entrance room and expansive rotunda are paved with Italian marble. The Maine governor's mansion is in Augusta. The 28-room mansion, called "The Blaine House," was built in the 1830s and became the official residence for the governor in 1919, according to the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally built in the Federalist style, but was later remodeled to look like a Colonial structure. Helen Keller, Bette Davis, Groucho Marx, and Amelia Earhart all visited Blaine House. Tours of the house are available in December and January and can be reserved through the Maine State Museum. The Maryland governor's mansion is in Annapolis. The Georgian-style 38,000-square-foot mansion has been home to governors since 1870. It has 54 rooms, a 49-step red oak staircase, and a $169,000 Victorian fountain, Baltimore magazine reported. It has seven public rooms featuring portraits of George Washington and Queen Henrietta Maria, according to the Maryland State Archives. Massachusetts doesn't have a governor's mansion, but reports say it was almost the Ames-Webster Mansion in the early 1970s. Since the 1850s, there have been several attempts to establish an official governor's residence in Massachusetts. Mostly, the reason it didn't happen, on several different occasions, is financing, Curbed Boston reported. In the early 1970s, the Ames-Webster Mansion was reportedly a possibility to become the governor's mansion, but then-Gov. Frank Sargent was wary about spending, as he'd recently proposed a tax increase. The Michigan governor's mansion is in Lansing. The 8,700-square-foot, Ranch-style mansion was built in 1957, and has been the state's official residence since 1969, The Detroit News reported. It has five bedrooms and four bathrooms, the Wall Street Journal reported. In 2004, $2.5 million of private funds were spent to renovate the home. The governor of Michigan also gets a summer residence on Mackinac Island, The Detroit News reported. It has been state-owned since 1944 and has 11 bedrooms. The Minnesota governor's mansion is in St. Paul. The 16,000-square-foot English Tudor-style mansion was finished in 1912 and became the state's official residence in 1965, according to the official website of the Minnesota Governor's Residence. It sits on 1 acre of ritzy Summit Avenue. Inside, there are nine fireplaces, seven bedrooms, and 10 bathrooms. The Mississippi governor's mansion is in Jacksonville. The Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1842. It is the second oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the US, according to Mississippi Encyclopedia. The mansion is open to the public for tours Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The Missouri governor's mansion is in Jefferson City. The three-story brick mansion was built in 1872 and has been the official residence since then. It has 13 bedrooms and a 17-foot-high great hall, the St. Louis Post-Distpatch reported. Due to the period when it was built, it originally didn't have any bathrooms or closets. The full schedule of seasonal tours is available on the mansion's official website. The Montana governor's mansion is in Helena. In 2024, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and first lady Susan Gianforte purchased the Samuel T. Hauser House, a historic mansion in Helena, to use as their primary residence and donate to the state for future governors to use. They paid $4 million for the home, which former Montana Gov. Samuel T. Hauser built in 1855, according to a statement from the governor's office. The Gianfortes had to move out of the previous governor's mansion in 2021 due to necessary repairs. The Nebraska governor's mansion is in Lincoln. The 15,340-square-foot Georgian Colonial-style mansion was opened in 1958, according to the Office of the Governor. It has 27 rooms, 12 bathrooms, and four fireplaces. In the 1980s, then-first gentleman Bill Orr was critical of the interior decor and helped raise money for renovations by authoring a cookbook, People magazine reported. In 1997, an elevator was also built inside, the Lincoln Journal-Star reported. The Nevada governor's mansion is in Carson City. The Classical Revival-style, two-story mansion was built in 1909, according to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. It has 23 rooms, a grand entrance area, a private den, a formal dining area, two salons, and a wrap-around porch on the second story. In 1969, a circular pergola, curved front stairs, and metal balustrades were added to the house, according to Visit Carson City. A $5 million renovation in 1999 added a 6,608-square-foot building called the Nevada room, which can cater to 300 guests. The New Hampshire governor's mansion is in Concord. The 6,725-square-foot brick mansion, also known as "Bridges House," was built in 1836 and donated to the state in 1969, according to the governor's office. Governors and their families have typically not lived there because it only has two bedrooms. Only Gov. Mel Thomson actually lived in it during his term in the 1970s, the Concord Monitor reported. Most governors use it for official events instead. The home fell into disrepair in the 1990s, but former Gov. John Lynch and his wife, first lady Susan Lynch, resurrected the house. The New Jersey governor's mansion is in Princeton. The Greek-Revival mansion, called "Drumthwacket," was built in 1834. It has 20 rooms, a library, a music room, and sits on 11 acres filled with Italian gardens. The state purchased it in 1966. Every Christmas, the mansion is decorated and opened to the public. The last New Jersey governor to live there full-time was James E. McGreevey, who resigned in 2004, The New York Times reported. The New Mexico governor's mansion is in Santa Fe. The 8,000-square-foot Territorial Revival-style mansion was built in the mid-1950s. It is the third official residence for New Mexico. Harrison Ford was married on the mansion grounds. Tours are offered from April to November and can be booked through the New Mexico Governor's Mansion Foundation. The New York governor's mansion is in Albany. The mansion was built in 1856 and has been the official residence for 32 governors since 1875. It has 40 rooms, a 20-foot master bathroom, and two swimming pools — one indoor and one outdoor, The New York Times reported. It sits on 6 acres. Notable incidents include when Theodore Roosevelt had to break in through a first-floor window when he locked himself out, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo getting spooked when he thought it was haunted by the spirit of a groundskeeper, who served the house's original owners, The New York Post reported. The North Carolina governor's mansion is in Raleigh. The 35,000-square-foot, Victorian-style mansion has been the official residence since 1891, according to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Inside, it has rooms with 16.5-foot ceilings, an elevator, and a bomb shelter. The mansion sits on almost 5 acres, and is the country's third-biggest governor's mansion, Walter magazine reported. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought it had the most beautiful interior out of all of them, according to Visit Raleigh. The North Dakota governor's mansion is in Bismarck. The 13,700-square-foot mansion was finished in 2018 and cost nearly $5 million to build, the Bismarck Tribune reported. It has six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, marble floors, white-oak walls, and cedar ceilings, the Grand Forks Herald reported. It also has a 22-foot ceiling in its reception area, with a spiral staircase that's meant to resemble the Capitol's Memorial Hall. The Ohio governor's mansion is in Columbus. The 13,000-square-foot mansion was built in the 1920s and has housed governors since 1957, according to Friends of the Ohio Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden. It has 20 rooms and features a 3-acre heritage garden. The Oklahoma governor's mansion is in Oklahoma City. The 14,000-square-foot, Dutch Colonial-style mansion has been the official residence since 1928, ABC affiliate KTUL reported. It has a limestone exterior that matches the State Capitol, and a walnut-paneled library filled with books about the state or written by writers from the state, The Oklahoman reported. It also has an Oklahoma-shaped pool and a tennis court that was originally built as a landing pad for President Lyndon B. Johnson's helicopter. The Oregon governor's mansion is in Salem. The 11,409-square-foot, Tudor-style mansion, called "Mahonia Hall," has been the official residence since 1987. It was built in the 1920s, the Statesman Journal reported. It has eight bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, a wine cellar, a sun room, and a ballroom. The Pennsylvania governor's mansion is in Harrisburg. The Georgian-style, 28,000-square-foot mansion was built in 1968 and became the official governor's residence that same year, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's official website. The home is three stories tall and sits on 3.5 acres of land filled with gardens and bee hives. The home was damaged in April when an arsonist set fire to the property. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were inside, but unharmed. Their living quarters have reopened, but other parts of the mansion continue to undergo repairs. Rhode Island doesn't have a governor's mansion. Rhode Island's state legislature used to move locations, making a set governor's mansion impractical, WPRO reported. In addition, Rhode Island's size makes for a short commute, and the state reportedly lacked funds to acquire another property while constructing the State House in the early 1900s. The South Carolina governor's mansion is in Columbia. The two-story, Federal-style mansion was built in 1855, originally as an officer quarters for a military academy, The New York Times reported. It has been the official residence since 1868. Inside, there's a formal drawing room and a state dining room. The mansion sits on 9 acres and is shaded by old magnolias, oaks, and elms, according to the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion has housed more than 30 governors and their families. In 2003, then-Gov. Mark Sanford and his family moved into the house after renovations, but due to accepting the lowest bid from construction companies, poor repairs led to six family members having to move into the one-room pool house, The New York Times reported. For the last 40 years, the mansion has been decorated and opened to the public every Christmas. The South Dakota governor's mansion is in Pierre. The 14,000-square-foot, two-story mansion has been the official governor's residence since 2005, according to the South Dakota Bureau of Administration. The mansion has five bedrooms, a grand dining hall that can hold 80 people, two fireplaces, and a commercial kitchen. Its exterior is a mixture of field stone, copper flashing, brick, and concrete. The Tennessee governor's mansion is in Nashville. The three-story, Georgian-style mansion was built in 1931 and became the official residence in 1949, according to the government of Tennessee's official website. The house has 16 rooms, including a 14,000-square-foot banquet and meeting space beneath its front lawn. Inside, some of the art includes a portrait of Elvis Presley and photos of him when he was dating then-Gov. Buford Ellington's daughter, The Tennessean reported. The entrance has a black-and-white marble floor — the black marble was imported from Belgium, and the white from Georgia. It sits on 10 acres and used to be called "Far Hills" because of its view. Free tours are available from mid-March to mid-November. The Texas governor's mansion is in Austin. The Greek Revival-style mansion has been the state's official residence since 1856, according to the Texas State Preservation Board. The house has a veranda, floor-to-ceiling windows, and six 29-foot columns along the front porch. In 2008, an arsonist threw a Molotov cocktail at the house and caused major damage, The New York Times reported. Then-Gov. Rick Perry and his family (who weren't at the house during the fire) couldn't move back in for four years. Before the fire, it housed Texas politician Sam Houston's four-poster bed, and the writing desk of Stephen F. Austin, who has been dubbed the founder of Texas, according to the Texas governor's office. The Utah governor's mansion is in Salt Lake City. The French Renaissance mansion, called the "Kearns Mansion," was built in 1902 and became the official residence in 1937, according to the state of Utah's official website. It has 28 rooms including six bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, a ballroom, a billiards room, two dining rooms, and three vaults for wine and other valuables, Deseret News reported. The interior is decorated in bronze, iron, Russian mahogany, and oak from France and England. The mansion has a bowling alley in the basement, and used to have a large metal safe to keep candy guarded. In 1993, a fire damaged the building and almost $8 million was spent restoring the residence, according to Salt Lake City's City Hall. Vermont doesn't have a governor's mansion. Gov. Phil Scott lives with his family in Berlin, Vermont. The Virginia governor's mansion is in Richmond. The two-story, Federal-style mansion has been the official Virginia governor's residence since 1813. It is the oldest governor's mansion in the country still in use, according to its official website. It has hosted Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and former presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Barack Obama. The Washington governor's mansion is in Olympia. The Georgian-style brick mansion has been the Washington governor's official residence since 1909, according to the Olympia Governor's Mansion Foundation. The house features a ballroom and a state dining room. The West Virginia governor's mansion is in Charleston. The Georgian Colonial-style mansion has been the official residence since 1925, according to the West Virginia Humanities Council. The house has eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a drawing room, a ballroom, a state dining room, a sitting room, and a library. At its entrance, there are black-and-white marble floors; the black is from Belgium, the white from Tennessee. It also has dual staircases, which were inspired by the White House. The Wisconsin governor's mansion is in Maple Bluff. The Classical Revival-style, three-story mansion was built in 1927 and has been the official governor's residence since 1950, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. It has seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, and its walls are between 12 and 18 inches thick, according to the mansion's official website. The grounds feature 10 gardens and overlook Lake Mendota. The Wyoming governor's mansion is in Cheyenne. The current Wyoming governor's mansion was built in 1976 after the previous mansion was turned into a museum, according to the Wyoming Historical Society. The grounds feature a bronze statue of deer titled "Open Season" by Guadalupe Barajas, according to the nonprofit Arts Cheyenne. Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2019. It was updated in June 2025.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
At Harvard, it's business as usual – even though it isn't
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Harvard Yard was decked out in all its regalia Tuesday in preparation for this week's graduation, Harvard University's 374th. Crimson banners adorned with 'Veritas' — the school's Latin motto, which translates to 'truth' — hung from trees and between various sets of Corinthian columns. Thousands of white folding chairs were set out in neat rows facing a stage erected in front of the white-steepled Memorial Church. On one of the few warm days that Cambridge has seen this year, thousands of smiling celebrants and their families wandered through the bucolic quads during the first of three days of graduation-related events. Some were teary eyed watching their loved ones take pictures in their gowns. The celebratory atmosphere, however, stood in contrast to the escalating series of actions taken by the Trump administration toward the school, with two more coming within a week of commencement ceremonies. Last Friday, the Department of Homeland Security revoked the university's ability to offer international student visas, an action now pending following a temporary stay from the courts. And then on Tuesday, The New York Times reported that all of Harvard's government contracts are set to be terminated, adding another $100 million to the $3.2 billion of federal grants already cut. The series of events cast a pall over the campus right before graduation. 'Honestly, it's been really, really tumultuous,' said Maya Douglas, a graduating senior from the class of '25, who was sitting in the shade with her family near the statue of John Harvard. On April 11, the Trump administration sent a letter — later said to have been issued by mistake — outlining a series of reforms it expected the school to make in order to continue receiving governmental grants and contracts. The administration requested changes to governance, hiring and admissions, addressing 'egregious records of antisemitism or other bias,' prioritizing 'viewpoint diversity' and discontinuing anything DEI related. 'The overall view is pretty simple: Harvard and other top schools are far too left-wing,' wrote Tyler Cowen, an economics professor at George Mason University, summarizing the issue for The Free Press. 'The overall environment is not always kind to professors and students who are not.' Harvard refused to comply but its president, Alan M. Garber, said in a written statement that the school had 'unfinished business' and needed to make several course corrections. Those included addressing antisemitism and anti-Arab behavior on campus. Garber wrote, 'We need to ensure that the University lives up to its ideals by taking concrete steps to reaffirm a culture of free inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and academic exploration.' In subsequent weeks, Harvard did not comply with any of the administration's requests. As a result, the administration cancelled billions of dollars in federal funding, paused other grants, disqualified future contracts and threatened to revoke the school's tax-exempt status. Even before the cancellation of international student visas (which could affect nearly 7,000 people and cost the university substantial income) and the termination of remaining contracts, it was a lot of information for the students to juggle while finishing up the semester. 'There's constantly changing news,' said Evan MacKay, a sociology graduate student and teaching fellow at Harvard. 'You'll be in a meeting and then 45 minutes into the meeting, somebody will drop another piece of breaking news. 'It's really difficult to stay on top of everything …. 'Oh, we hear this thing from the Trump administration. Maybe the university will sue? Maybe there will be some type of injunction?' Who knows really what's going on? So, there's a lot of uncertainty,' MacKay said. MacKay was participating in a 'solidarity demonstration' May 23 after the Department of Homeland Security termination of international student visas. They and several other students and professors made signs and took photographs to show their support for the international student community. 'It is hard to overstate what a devastating loss the departure of our international students would be — and I don't just mean a loss for Harvard. The very best minds from across the world, they come here in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery,' said Naomi Weiss, professor and chair of the Department of the Classics, in a press release. 'A lot of international students are really worried, especially because they may not be able to go here anymore,' said Douglas, the graduating senior. Several students said they did not wish to speak on the record because they were worried about their visa status. MacKay said there is probably a sense of relief among the students who are graduating, as they no longer have to worry about waking up to another day of news that could affect them personally. 'There's more of a sense of it casting a shadow for students who are returning — for faculty, for staff. A lot of staff are incredibly worried about layoffs and cuts in funding.' Douglas, a chemistry major about to embark on a graduate degree program at George Washington University, said several of her friends had fellowships or campus work cancelled. But even so, she thinks Harvard is doing a great job under the circumstances. 'The research that they do, in my opinion, is insane.' And she is not worried that all of this controversy will affect her degree or her school's reputation in the long run. 'If Harvard continues to go the way that they're going right now with standing up for academia and high-level academics, I think the reputation will be, as Harvard's always been, one of the biggest universities in the world,' Douglas said. 'As long as they keep taking a firm stance with what they believe is right … I'll think they'll be fine.'
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
The National Gallery in London Rehangs Its Collection
LONDON—The National Gallery turned 200 last year. As part of its yearlong bicentenary celebrations, the world-renowned gallery rehung its collection and renovated the entrance, foyer, and mezzanine of its Sainsbury Wing. The redisplayed Gallery opened on May 10, its 201st anniversary. Initially, Parliament founded the National Gallery in London on May 10, 1824, with a collection of 38 paintings housed at 100 Pall Mall, the former home of financier John Julius Angerstein (1735–1823) who had acquired the works. The Gallery opened to the public four days a week and to artists two days a week. In 1838, the National Gallery collection moved to its new purpose-built gallery, designed by architect William Wilkins (1778–1839), in Trafalgar Square. On July 24, 1929, the financial secretary to the Treasury, Baron Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, highlighted the National Gallery collection in Parliament: 'It is of great importance that works which are recognised as masterpieces should not be allowed to leave this country, but should remain the heritage of the people of these islands; and, further than that, that they should not be locked away in some private collection, where they will only be viewed by a few selected people, but that they should be in a public place where people of all positions in life, if they choose to take the trouble, can avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing them.' Related Stories 5/9/2025 8/10/2020 Today, the nation's painting collection spans seven centuries and some 2,400 works. National Gallery visitors can now view over 1,000 Western European artworks from the 13th to 20th century anew, including works by Bellini, Leonardo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Diego Velázquez. The Sainsbury Wing The Gallery's Sainsbury Wing has been closed for over two years, for remedial repairs, and for New York City-based Selldorf Architects working with London heritage architects Purcell to create a more welcoming main entrance foyer. The new, vast entrance foyer of the Sainsbury Wing, with its low ceiling, stark stone columns, and nearly 40-foot-wide digital screen, seems more akin to an airport lounge or swanky advertising office than the main entrance to a world-renowned painting collection. Despite the renovations' corporate rather than civic feel, the saving grace is that the foyer leads to the staircase abutted with double-floor-high windows that flood the area with sunlight and anticipation for what's to come. As visitors ascend the steps to the earliest paintings in the Gallery's collection, these windows afford a view of the original 1830s National Gallery building with its marble pilasters and Corinthian columns, and beyond—further into Trafalgar Square. It's a welcome reminder of the Gallery's prominent home and eminent 201-year history. Sunlight guides visitors up the staircase of the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery in London. Phil Starling/Copyright The National Gallery, London At the top of the staircase, a newly commissioned artwork—a sun made of river sediment—completes the corporate entrance feel. It's an odd choice for the first artwork the public encounters before entering the gallery of Medieval and Early Renaissance art, the traditional highpoints of Western art. All is forgiven when entering room 51, with its warm welcome of Gallery favorites such as 'The Virgin of the Rocks' by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) and 'The Manchester Madonna' by Michelangelo (1475–1564), which is an unfinished egg tempera painting that gives a wonderful peek into his painting practice. London's National Gallery members view 'The Virgin of the Rocks,' circa 1491–1508, by Leonardo da Vinci. Two doorways on either side of the painting lead to Leonardo's 'The Burlington House Cartoon.' Copyright The National Gallery, London Light enters the main Sainsbury Wing rooms through a series of skylights. As in a church, the sunlight makes the gold gilding shimmer, heightening its heavenly effect. The curators thoughtfully demonstrate how these altarpieces were used in private and public devotion. A darkened side room and alcove bench behind 'The Virgin of the Rocks' invites one to sit and contemplate Leonardo's ' (L) 'The Wilton Diptych,' by an unknown English or French artist. Egg tempera on wood; 20 7/8 inches by 14 9/16 inches. Room 51 of the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, London. The Sainsbury Wing houses the nation's collection of medieval and early Renaissance (1250–1550) paintings. Copyright The National Gallery, London When acquiring the diptych for the Gallery in 1929, politician Andrew MacLaren said in a Parliamentary debate: 'It has simplicity, it has evidence of having been done by an artist not merely for payment but for the honour and glory of God. Only by such an impulse can any great work of art be produced.' Wherever possible, the altarpieces are arranged to evoke their original religious settings. Notably, the astounding 'The San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece' is situated at the front of the room, in a newly created frame that Gallery staff volunteers burnished in gold leaf. In front of the 'The San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece,' a predella from the altarpiece of San Domenico convent in Fiesole, Italy, is encased in glass. It demands particularly close attention. Fra Angelico (circa 1395–1455) depicted the hierarchy of heaven: In the central panel, Christ in heaven is surrounded by angels; on the left panel is 'The Virgin Mary With the Apostles and Other Saints' and on the right panel 'The Forerunners of Christ With Saints and Martyrs.' 'The San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece,' 1370–1371, by Jacopo di Cione and workshop. Egg tempera on wood. Room 57 of the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, London. Copyright The National Gallery, London Walking from the 'The San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece' to an adjoining room, an early-14th-century crucifix hangs from the ceiling. It's a first for the Gallery and replicates the way the crucifix would have originally hung high in the church. Artist Segna di Bonaventura (active by 1298, died around 1326) painted the figure of Christ specifically to be seen from below, so seeing the work suspended from the ceiling makes sense. The unsettling three-dimensionality of Christ's wounded body must have served as a moving reminder of his sacrifice. Fresh Gallery Rooms Leaving the Medieval and Early Renaissance (1260–1550) gallery rooms of the Sainsbury Wing behind, the next 400 years of paintings on display reside in the Wilkins-designed Gallery building, accessed via an internal bridge. The Gallery remains divided into art eras: Renaissance (1500–1600) in rooms 2 to 14, Baroque (1600–1700) in rooms 15 to 32, Rococo to Romanticism (1700–1800) in the central hall and rooms 33 to 37, and Towards Modernism (after 1800) in rooms 38 to 46. Some artists now have their own dedicated rooms, including Piero della Francesca (circa 1415–1492) and Rembrandt (1606‒1669), enabling visitors to fully appreciate their artistic progression. The Baptism of Christ,' circa 1437–1445, by Piero Della Francesca. Room 66 of the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, London. Copyright The National Gallery, London Other, new rooms focus on specific genres and mediums. There's a room full of still-life paintings. Pastel artworks hang together in room 42, the Gallery's first space dedicated to the medium, demonstrating the wide appeal, versatility, and different styles of pastel painting in two different art eras. Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702‒1789) brilliantly commanded the medium with fine works such as 'The Collection favorites such as Thomas Gainsborough's (1727–1788) family portraits hang together like a family album. Similarly, Peter Paul Rubens's (1577–1640) portrait assumed to be Susanna Lunden hangs beside Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun's (1755–1842) 'Self Portrait in a Straw Hat,' demonstrating how the old master directly influenced her more than 150 years later. Thoughtful and surprising curatorial touches like these run throughout the Gallery space, reinvigorating the collection even for seasoned Gallery visitors. A portrait assumed to be of Susanna Lunden ('Le Chapeau de Paille'), probably 1622–1625, by Peter Paul Rubens. Oil on wood; 31 1/8 inches by 21 1/2 inches. National Gallery, London. Copyright The National Gallery, London "Self Portrait in a Straw Hat," 1782, by Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. Oil on canvas; 38 1/2 inches by 27 3/4 inches. National Gallery, London. Copyright The National Gallery, London New Acquisitions From Old Favorites As well as seeing the collection afresh, there are over 20 new loans and eight new acquisitions to celebrate the Gallery's bicentenary. Among the acquisitions are an early 16th-century French or Netherlandish altarpiece titled ' 'The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret,' circa 1510, by an unknown Netherlandish or French painter. Oil on wood; 48 1/8 inches by 41 5/8 inches. Bought with the support of the American Friends of the National Gallery, London, 2025; National Gallery, London. Copyright The National Gallery, London 'After the Audience,' 1879, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Oil on wood; 36 inches by 26 inches. The National Gallery in London acquired the painting to mark its 200th anniversary year. Copyright The National Gallery, London Poussin's painting of the Last Supper, titled 'Eucharist,' is one in the first series of seven paintings depicting the Roman Catholic rites: Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, and Extreme Unction. Six in the series survive, two of which are in American collections: 'Baptism' in the National Gallery of Art in Washington and 'Ordination' in the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. 'Eucharist,' circa 1637–1640, by Nicolas Poussin. Oil on canvas; 37 5/8 inches by 47 5/8 inches. The National Gallery in London acquired the painting to mark its 200th anniversary year. Copyright The National Gallery, London Poussin's sensitive treatment of light in 'Eucharist' is wondrous. He directed candlelight from the double-wicked lamp and the candle on the stool. Set in architectural grandeur, Christ sits at the center of the symmetrical composition and the 12 apostles flank him. He holds the bread and wine in one hand and holds his other hand in a gesture of blessing. Some apostles raise their hands in gestures receptive to Christ's blessing. Judas may be the only figure who has turned his back on Christ, perhaps indicative of the apostle's betrayal. Founding president of the Royal Academy of Arts, Sir Joshua Reynolds viewed Poussin's seven sacraments series in 1785 and The rehung National Gallery in London truly celebrates the nation's painting collection, and is testimony to the entire curatorial team's efforts and passion for the legacy of Western art. To find out more, visit What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Historic Glasgow office building put up for sale with £1m price tag
The property dates back to 1897 and is sandwiched between two larger buildings on one of Glasgow's main commercial streets. It is currently owned by a private investor, with established Scottish law firm Miller Beckett Jackson committed to the building for the next 40 years. South Indian restaurant Banana Leaf also operates out of the basement having sublet the unit from the law firm. Read More The building was designed by Glasgow architect firm Burnet & Boston in an English renaissance style. It is characterised by red ashlar stonework, Corinthian columns and tripartite windows – with the original interior also largely retained. Edin Lynch, surveyor at Knight Frank Glasgow, said: '190 St Vincent Street presents a rare opportunity to acquire a striking period office building in a prime city centre location. 'With a secure lease term and an attractive yield, the asset offers a compelling investment. Its distinctive architecture and prestigious address are expected to attract strong interest from high-net-worth individuals, families, investors, and architectural enthusiasts.'
