A Review: THE ENCHANTING INTERIORS OF BUNNY MELLON: PAINTINGS BY SNOWY CAMPBELL with Charlotte Moss

The refined rooms of American philanthropist and aesthete Bunny Mellon (1910-2014)--interiors influential for their ability to combine magnificent collections of fine and decorative art with an ambiance of comfort and ease--were documented by artist Snowy Campbell, a lasting tribute to Mellon's impeccable taste. The houses of Mellon and her husband Paul have become icons in the field of interior decoration, filled with fine antiques, blue-chip works of art (a Van Gogh left unframed and propped on a mantel), personal mementos, and exquisite objets d'art, all displayed in Mellon's inimitably sophisticated yet charming way. Campbell was employed by Mellon in 1970 for six years, just after college, to document in paint several residences of the Mellons--presented here as a group for the first time. This book--a project that was started by Mellon but never realized until now--presents Campbell's paintings that capture the colors, light, and ambiance of rooms and gardens, as well as intricate patterns and details of furnishings in spaces put together with help from renowned decorators John Fowler and Bruce Budd. Three residences--in New York City; Washington, DC; and Upperville, Virginia--are the focus, with texts by society chronicler James Reginato describing Mellon's decorating style and the ways the Mellons used each property. Opening the doors to a life of superb connoisseurship, this volume is an homage to the interiors of a renowned couple and the extraordinary work of a young artist.