Belmont Mansion, Nashville, TN
The Belmont Mansion here in Nashville, Tennessee recently acquired over 200 new pieces that belonged to Adelicia Acklen, the mistress of Belmont Mansion, the setting of A Lasting Impression and A Beauty So Rare.
These items have been in the Acklen family since being removed from the Belmont Mansion in the 1880s. But as you can imagine, the curator and staff of the mansion are welcoming them back with open arms, grateful to the Acklen family for their generosity.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the returning treasures…
One of two vases, French Porcelain (Old Paris) 1850
Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham (1817-1887) ca. 1840
Pauline Acklen Lockett (1859-1931) ca. 1875 (Adelicia’s daughter)
Resignation (Parian) Purchased on Adelicia’s Grand Tour of Europe 1865
Click to see more items from the collection
These are all pieces that belonged to Adelicia who is a prominent secondary character in my Belmont Mansion novels. I couldn’t begin to write these novels with such historical detail and accuracy if not for the staff at the Belmont Mansion. They’re fabulous! (Jerry Trescott, thanks for the personal tour of these returning treasures.)
The next time you’re in Nashville, I hope you’ll stop by the mansion for a visit. Or better yet, grab your book club and plan a girl’s weekend out. I’m often in the mansion and run into readers there. I hope to see you soon!
What’s the last museum or art show you’ve attended? And which do you enjoy perusing more? Pretty portraits or porcelain pretties?
Tammy
Tamera Alexander
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Hmmm…it’s been way too long since I’ve toured around a museum! Why do I always think of it as a rainy day activity to do with children? I think my favourite art tour show was a collection of original picture book art. (I’m a school librarian). I found it utterly fascinating to see the illustrators’ artwork up close. One of my goals is to visit the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Yeah, it’s a library thing. 🙂
I’d much rather look at portraits. No geegaws for me! There’s so much more scope for imagination in a portrait!
I so agree, Kav. The old oil paintings are truly amazing with their intricacies and detail, not to mention the emotion the artist (is this case, Washington Cooper) captures of their subjects. I do love the dishes, too, though. I’m a sucker for an antique compote! 🙂 Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art…would love to see that. Adore his books.
My family and I were able to visit the Belmont Mansion last July when we were returning Kansas after a wonderful week in Gatlinburg. We stopped in Nashville for lunch and I told my husband it was a must see. My 4 teenagers enjoyed it as well. My oldest daughter and I are big fans of yours. Hope to visit the Bel Meade Plantation next time we drive that direction.
We visited the Georgie O’Keefe museum when we were in Santa Fe in March. They were so kid friendly! They gave our three kiddos sketch pads and pencils when they entered, as well as a ‘treasure hunt’ that had them searching for something in each different room of the museum. I particularly love walking through places like Belmont Mansion or old castles, etc, where families once lived. It never fails to stir my imagination.
I’ve read the first in the series, A Lasting Impression, and yes, I would love to tour the actual mansion. You brought it beautifully to life. I have the next book on my TBR stack. There’s nothing quite like seeing a setting after being immersed in it through the pages of a well researched and vividly written novel. It’s how I felt when I visited Blowing Rock, NC, after reading (and rereading) the Mitford books by Jan Karon.
I forgot to answer your question. Tamera! I admit, it’s been a very long time since I attended an art show (other than my own), but I’ll never forget it. By the time I was in high school, my favorite painter was Robert Bateman, a Canadian wildlife painter who is, in his 90s now, still painting I do believe. The summer after high school I was an intern at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (my favorite museum growing up), working down in the graphic art department. That was in 1986. That fall, after my internship ended, the museum was hosting a showing of Bateman’s paintings. How I wanted to still be working there then, to help the department hang all those paintings I’d poured over in my Robert Bateman books. The next best thing was taking the bus back in several times to wander through the downstairs gallery (past the big elephant, down the escalator) to stand nearly nose to nose, then far away, then close again, to these incredible works by my favorite artist. I learned more about wildlife painting during those hours than my two years of art college managed to teach me.
PS: Bateman is not quite as old as all that. He’s only 84. I just checked. 🙂
Loved seeing pictures of the newly acquired items. What a wonderful gift to all who will visit the mansion. Hope to make it back there one of these days. 🙂
Oh my – – that French Porcelain vase is GORGEOUS!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this today, Tammy – – Belmont is still on my “Wish List” of places to visit.
Hmmmm….the most recent museum I’ve visited (and it’s been a few years) was in Atlanta at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum (my oldest sister just retired from the Library there last week!). They often feature “visiting displays” that are fascinating.
Hugs, Patti Jo
p.s. Waving at Miss Judy!!!! 🙂
I have to come to Nashville and see the Belmont. One of these days…I’ve been telling Eric I need a weekend away. Maybe this fits the bill..though Nashville is a tad humid, isn’t it 🙂