Delaware Antiques Show 2021

(Kim Hall and Justin Hardison of Nottene), and a music composition that combines historic scores found in the Winterthur Library with sounds from the garden (Elissa Edwards and Élan Ensemble) (fig. 2) . These contemporary works illustrate just some of the ways Winterthur influences design today. Designers, gardeners, collectors, historians, and countless others look to Winterthur as a muse. The museum’s impact on American design extends well beyond the boundaries of the estate. In 1961, Winterthur and its founder attracted national attention when First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy named H. F. du Pont as chairman of her Fine Arts Committee for the White House restoration project. Mrs. Kennedy recognized Winterthur as an example of an American home that honored history in its interiors. In her thank you letter to du Pont after a visit to Winterthur, she wrote, “I am sure that people more eloquent than I could ever hope to be—have tried to tell you what it means to see that incredible museum and gardens—but how could anyone ever express the impression it leaves—All I can say is I will never recover from it—or forget one tiny detail—I just can’t believe that it was possible for anyone to ever do such a thing—Mr. du Pont you now have me in such a state of awe and reverence I may never be able to write you a letter again!” Despite these words, their correspondence continued for many years as they worked together to establish the White House as the home of the people that also told a story about America’s past. Opening in May of 2022, the exhibition Jacqueline Kennedy and H. F. du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House , guest curated by Elaine Rice Bachmann, documents this work through objects, archives, and images (fig. 3) . Fig. 2. Heather Ossandon’s Still Life with Fruit installed in the Winterthur galleries as part of Transformations: Contemporary Artists at Winterthur recalls Winterthur’s history as a farm and references objects in the collection, including a painting of the same name by Mary Jane Peale. Photo by Nat Caccamo Kim Collison is Curator of Exhibitions at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Fig. 3. Jacqueline Kennedy on the Montmorenci staircase at Winterthur on May 8, 1961. — 12 —