Villa Finale - a last home
by Lianne Schneider
Title
Villa Finale - a last home
Artist
Lianne Schneider
Medium
Digital Art - Digital Painting/photographic Art
Description
Please view large - in full resolution preview - in order to get a feel for the digital technique used for this piece.
Another in my Plantation/Estate series - nearing the end for the time being - this beautiful mansion graces the King William district of historic San Antonio, Texas. Villa Finale, the first and only National Trust Historic Site in Texas, opened to the general public for the first time on October 2, 2010.
The House
Construction began on the Italianate mansion now known as Villa Finale in 1876. It was a part of the then-thriving King William neighborhood, originally settled mostly by German immigrant families, many of whom became prosperous as merchants and bankers. By 1967, when Walter Nold Mathis bought the home, it was a rooming house and, like the neighborhood surrounding it, had settled into a decline. Mathis spent eighteen months restoring the home, and after the exhaustive work was done, he dubbed the house Villa Finale - his last home. In 2004, Mathis gave the 1876 home and his extensive collections to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so the home could become the first National Trust Historic Site in Texas.
The Man
Walter Nold Mathis was a leading preservationist and businessman in San Antonio, Texas. An advocate for city and statewide historic preservation, Mathis was also a civic and cultural leader and a member of one of San Antonio's original founding families with roots reaching back to the Canary Island settlers of 1731. Although Villa Finale was Mathis' last personal residence, it wasn't the last house he owned; he purchased another fourteen houses in King William and invested his own time and money to undertake essential preservation work on them before selling them to individuals who would continue their restoration. Mathis is widely recognized as the catalyst for the revitalization of the King William National Historic District.
The Collection
Villa Finale is overflowing with Mathis' 12,500 piece collection which includes distinctive examples of European furniture, ceramics, silver, and fine art. Mathis particularly enjoyed collecting memorabilia surrounding the life and death of Napoleon Bonaparte. The collection also includes a number of prominent Texas artists such as Mary Bonner, and Julian and Robert Onderdonk. Additionally, there is a wide range of Texas decorative arts, such as Bell silver, Texas furniture, and Texian campaign ceramics.
Derivative digital painting based on an image in the public domain
Copyright - MCN :: CDE12-9LN34-P145B
Uploaded
June 17th, 2012
Statistics
Viewed 5,422 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/18/2024 at 2:04 AM
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Comments (51)
Lianne Schneider
Alexandria and Kiki Art - I thank you so very much for featuring this painting in your wonderful groups - MEMORIES AND NOSTALGIA and DIGITAL ART AND FABULOUS FRACTALS. I'm so very honored.
Lianne Schneider
Sharon - thank you so much for featuring this image in SIGNATURE STYLE ART. I'm incredibly honored and thrilled.
Lianne Schneider
My most sincere thanks Navin and Dan for featuring this lovely old home in TOP DIGITAL ARTWORKS and PREMIUM FAA ARTISTS. I'm tremendously honored.
Lianne Schneider
Stefon and Don, I'm so grateful to you for featuring this painting in your wonderful groups APPRECIATING WORKS FROM ALL MEDIUMS and I WISH I WAS THERE. I'm truly honored and very thankful.
Lianne Schneider
Thanks so much James, William and Laura for featuring this image in BEAUTY, ART WITH FLAIR and DIGITAL MAGIC. It's such an honor.
Will Borden
Lianne~~back for a second visit! Certainly a beautifully constructed mansion! Fine imagery, too!! Tweet!
Linda Phelps
V. I loke the composition in this image with the trees frameing this outstanding piece of architecture. Good details! Nice to have a lovely blue in the sky.
Mona Edulescu
Splendid digital creation, Lianne... the treatment you applied is so original, love it! And also love this beautiful villa, the atmosphere there is so charming....F&V
Ann Horn
Wonderful image of a magnificent and venerable home, Lianne. I particularly like your capture of its great porches.
Anne-Elizabeth Whiteway
Lianne, Here I am back again to view this memorable and outstanding image. I always enjoy your site & reading your descriptions. Thanks for your encouraging remarks about my "Fishy" painting and others. F/V
Jeff Swan
what a beautiful home and pic!!!!
Lianne Schneider replied:
Thank you so much Jeff - my apology for taking so long to get back to you. I really appreciate it.
Xueling Zou
From you wonderful description and beautiful work, I feel I am there already:)! Just love what you have done on this image, fabulous! Thank you:)!
Lianne Schneider replied:
You are always so very wonderful to me Xueling - and your comments always make me feel so good. Thank you.
Shawn Hughes
I have actually visited this amazing Mansion once last year, you described it perfect....with even more detail and beauty! Well done! I love it! V&F! Shawn
Lianne Schneider replied:
Isn't it a beauty?? Oh I love San Antonio so much and this is one reason why. Thank you so much Shawn.
Marsha Heiken
Lianne,Truly Amazingly Gorgeous.Love the cream against the greenary everywhere!!Perfectly photo and treatment. Never would have known any digital was done.Great work. Was you a history teacher? Great writings! Sycamore,I didn't know ,we loved them and took pics.It was cold last year. Thanks hun for comment on my tree. Hugs dear,Marsha FV congrats on features!
Lianne Schneider replied:
Hi sweetie - well I didn't "teach" history often but yes, that was my undergraduate major along with several other social sciences. So delighted that you liked this. Has to be seen very large to see the digital work. Hugs to you too xox
Debra Vatalaro
Perfect Capture!! love the strong details in the scape!!! Nicely done!!! :^) Debi F/V
Lianne Schneider replied:
Thank you so very much Debra - I do love San Antonio and am glad I did her justice in this piece. That means a lot to me.
Gloria Ssali
such wonderful shadows and lovely positioning your work has such emotion and feel i always find something new to admire in your galleries fv
Lianne Schneider replied:
So grateful Gloria - forgive me if I fall behind on your posts but I'm a little under the weather. Will catch up as soon as I can.