To the editor:
This is an excerpt of a letter to State Sen. Kip Bateman that addresses issues concerning the Doris Duke mansion:
Emily Cooperman, an art historian, has stated: “The house is a pastiche of different designs from different periods and does not completely express the work of a master or the collaboration between masters.“ Although I agree with her on this, that can’t possibly justify its demolition.
I am shocked that the Hillsborough Historic Preservation Commission agreed to the destruction of this mansion based on that argument. We can say the same thing about the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Brooklyn Museum, but no one in their right mind would completely tear those structures down.
The interior of the Doris Duke home is gorgeous. Take a look: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1022647034454947&set=pcb.1483637605300384&type=3&theater
The rooms are huge. This home could easily be turned into an art museum. I would love to see the Metropolitan Museum of Art take control of the building and use it to display the works of art that they have in storage. The exterior could be made to look beautiful with remodeling and with landscaping.
The United States has a history of destroying art and architecture at the whim of the powerful and what they deem valueless one day often is seen as valuable in the future. In the early 1980s, I studied art history at Rutgers University and was often surprised with what was chosen as valuable enough to be mentioned. Artists such as Antonio Mancini were never a part of our curriculum.
Who sits on the Hillsborough Historic Preservation Commission’s board? Are they naive enough to be easily misguided by the opinions of those they deem superior to themselves?
Or do they, or their friends, have plans to buy the pieces of the interior (valuable staircases, walls, mosaic and parquet floors, doors, pillars, mantelpieces) at bargain basement prices to adorn their own homes? Exactly what is going on here? I encourage you to investigate and stop this theft from the community.
Elizabeth Faraone
Plainfield
