tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post6420151325322047762..comments2024-03-03T17:50:27.025-05:00Comments on Gay Influence: James Deering's VizcayaTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219632588063153768noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-36515610060619240532023-12-23T00:58:09.791-05:002023-12-23T00:58:09.791-05:00Die magiese landgoed van 'n verfynde heer /
Th...Die magiese landgoed van 'n verfynde heer /<br />The magical estate of a refined gentleman<br />Vir Deering was Vizcaya 'n paleisagtige villa van plesier,<br />ongetwyfeld het die gespierde Afro-Amerikaanse bediendes hul weldoener op ander maniere goed gedien.<br />- PraetoriusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-28095741299677491442022-01-25T08:20:44.741-05:002022-01-25T08:20:44.741-05:00The tour was wonderful but part of the purpose for...The tour was wonderful but part of the purpose for the vast yet intimate gardens was overlooked. Strolls for contemplative introspection aside, those gardens with their intriguing grottos, nooks, bowers, gazebos and staircases appear ideally suited to "cruising" after dark. Dare I say, "purpose-built?" I wonder if somehow, discrete access to the gardens was deliberately left available for local gentlemen with an interest in "horticulture" to wander in after hours? Just sayin'. Or did I give too much away? More importantly, does the discrete access still exist and do the gardens fulfil the same community service today? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-91551142383605176532021-07-15T10:57:56.767-04:002021-07-15T10:57:56.767-04:00ostentatious = characterized by pretentious displa...ostentatious = characterized by pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.<br />Yes, this house is indeed opulent, grand, etc., but it is also ostentatious. I stand by my choice of word -- your blogger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-87411383121616287762020-05-13T10:28:35.630-04:002020-05-13T10:28:35.630-04:00A typical homophobic comment from a self-hate clos...A typical homophobic comment from a self-hate closeted gay guy. I assume you came across this article by "accident"? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-17937872316617863022019-07-14T20:26:53.009-04:002019-07-14T20:26:53.009-04:00I live in south Florida, and have visited Vizcaya ...I live in south Florida, and have visited Vizcaya numerous time. It is one of America’s greatest treasures, beyond all expectations! When I post photos from my visits most people think I’m in Europe! It has always been obvious to me that Deering was gay. Stavros Gargerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335311451331745758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-2483133222861556942018-05-03T23:50:37.462-04:002018-05-03T23:50:37.462-04:00Thank you very much for this article and the blog!...Thank you very much for this article and the blog!!! Visited today and also felt that sometimes was missing.I asked the lovely tourlady about Deering's wife and she said there was no wife. Period. My partner and I realized Mr.Dering must have been gay..... Shame for this historical cleansing! Thanks again for the blog!!!!! Kamil Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08917927154405452582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-56318139216644804142017-11-25T07:45:34.495-05:002017-11-25T07:45:34.495-05:00Dear Terry,
I was in Viscaya with my wife and whi...Dear Terry,<br /><br />I was in Viscaya with my wife and while we both were profoundly impressed, felt something was missing.<br /><br />Thank you very much for the article, comments are fun and informative, now we have a true and complete picture of Deering, Chalfin and Vizcaya. Will go again to relive.<br /><br />I guess Florida's spanish Catholic influence affects the official narrative. Hard to strike the balance sometimes :) Sergeihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04100831832951365242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-74479573556210379642017-11-25T07:37:43.062-05:002017-11-25T07:37:43.062-05:00Terry,
We went with my wife to Vizcaya and while...Terry,<br /><br /><br />We went with my wife to Vizcaya and while both were profoundly impressed, felt something was missing. Thank you very much for maintaining the blog - the article and comments helped me understand the true Deering, Chalfin and Vizcaya story. Will go again to relive.Sergeihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04100831832951365242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-9126723685298425692017-11-16T14:59:18.818-05:002017-11-16T14:59:18.818-05:00It is simply nice to know and understand the histo...It is simply nice to know and understand the history of itscreation. No need to be a Debbie DownerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-79013924789581957202016-09-19T23:15:50.243-04:002016-09-19T23:15:50.243-04:00My partner and I visited yesterday. Two comments:
...My partner and I visited yesterday. Two comments:<br /><br />1. The main bedroom used by Deering had a direct connection around the inside balcony with the main guest room. Meaning, his "main guest" could easily gain access to his bedroom without the house staff being aware. <br /><br />2. When showing us Deering's personal library, the tour guide described it as "the room where Deering would have welcomed guests or gentleman callers to his home." I thought that was kind of cute. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-3612100978002452812016-09-05T13:45:51.788-04:002016-09-05T13:45:51.788-04:00My husband and I visited Vizcaya yesterday. We wer...My husband and I visited Vizcaya yesterday. We were bowled over by the beauty of the house and gardens. But we both felt intuitively the "official" narrative was condescending and absent any genuine account of the man (and men) who created it. Deering's homosexuality is an important part of understanding the legacy that he and Chaffin left behind. The kind of historical "cleansing" done to the official narrative reminds me of all those southern plantations that used to make no mention of the slaves that built them and on whose enslaved backs they depended. Thanks for setting the record straight.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01709131030633763875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-74180533523481883702016-05-06T00:20:04.781-04:002016-05-06T00:20:04.781-04:00"I felt Deering was gay because I can't i..."I felt Deering was gay because I can't imagine a straight man creating anything like this one of a kind place." Wow. Just wow. If I had written, "I felt Deering was straight because I can't imagine a gay man creating anything like this one of a kind place," folks would have been all over me about my so-called "homophobia." Just sayin'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-63300542703274239852016-01-03T00:10:04.782-05:002016-01-03T00:10:04.782-05:00A very special place. I'm glad you are writin...A very special place. I'm glad you are writing this blog for people and hope we can see a 100% change in people's attitudes. I felt Deering was gay because I can't imagine a straight man creating anything like this one of a kind place. Wonderful day going back to a bygone era. A Florida treasure.Gena Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979821835882047909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-59415423902416939862015-12-23T22:18:01.087-05:002015-12-23T22:18:01.087-05:00I first visited Vizcaya as a young child in 1963 a...I first visited Vizcaya as a young child in 1963 and revisited it dozens and dozens of times in next 50 years. My only complaint is that in the article the word "ostentatious" is used. Opulent, grand, ornate, baroque, sumptuous - yes ... but "ostentatious" no. It is a work of art in the very best of taste and historically authentic for the periods each room represent. Of course Deering and Chalfin were gay. We Floridians knew that generations ago!!!Philly Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05321363256192984730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-49244509105473363362015-04-09T19:50:31.056-04:002015-04-09T19:50:31.056-04:00Wonderful article with a lot of information I was ...Wonderful article with a lot of information I was curious about during my recent visit to this amazing place in Miami. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-62290505110326405532015-04-09T19:49:26.463-04:002015-04-09T19:49:26.463-04:00Wonderful article with a lot of information I was ...Wonderful article with a lot of information I was curious about during my recent visit to this amazing place in Miami. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-5281216154872423852015-02-06T09:19:54.543-05:002015-02-06T09:19:54.543-05:00We visited Vizcaya yesterday and discovered this t...We visited Vizcaya yesterday and discovered this terrific site (main house and gardens). It is a breath-taking museum and gardens and a delight to visit for all visitors to Florida. We will be back with guests whenever the opportunity arises. Governments and foundations should take interest in Vizcaya as a site to protect and restore.<br /><br />NormandNormand Dupasquiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-4915652170219759942014-12-04T23:31:54.866-05:002014-12-04T23:31:54.866-05:00For Deering to bequeath Vizcaya to Chalfin would h...For Deering to bequeath Vizcaya to Chalfin would have created a scandal of enormous proportions. Deering did what was "correct" for the times; he left the property to family. I have found no evidence that Chalfin was anything like "the love of Deering's life." It was likely an affair that ran its course. Deering indulged Chalfin far beyond what would have been appropriate for a professional relationship. Deering and Chalfin spent almost all of their time together either in Europe or on site at Vizcaya, providing socially acceptable "cover" for their spending so much time together. After that, too many eyebrows would have been raised and too many tongues would have wagged if the two were to socialize together; living together would have been impossible. Chalfin spent the rest of his life trading on his association with Deering and the Vizcaya Florida project.Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18219632588063153768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-70671152983092493972014-12-04T23:20:59.616-05:002014-12-04T23:20:59.616-05:00After the Vizcaya project was completed, Chalfin r...After the Vizcaya project was completed, Chalfin returned to New York City, where he had been living and working prior to being hired by Deering. Soon thereafter Deering lent Chalfin $40,000 to buy a townhouse in Manhattan; I cannot determine if the loan was repaid. Chalfin was a real opportunist and not of the same social class as Deering, so living as a couple on equal footing was not possible. The "princess" story was a fabrication to throw people off the scent of Deering's involvement with men. The only women who spent any time at Vizcaya did so as guests, such as famous actresses who arrived for grand parties and stayed on for a few days. His frequent guest John Singer Sargent also led a double life, as did most gay and bisexual men of prominence during those times. Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18219632588063153768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-84745941810880742642014-12-04T22:01:19.776-05:002014-12-04T22:01:19.776-05:00How intriguing. Either love stories or both could...How intriguing. Either love stories or both could work. If Chalfin was his long time Love it seems amiss he was not bequethed at least some treasures if not the house. I should expect James was not adverse to bucking tradition for such things. An unfortunate turn of events if Chalfin did actually play a cad with the unsung hero of Hoffman. And should I dare think that it rather unfortunate our hero JD did not insist on bequething the home to his Princess, should that part of thw story deem true. Nasty bit of buisness those neices and the Princesses eviction I should think.<br />fabulous blog Terry.<br />Thank you very much,<br />KaiAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05199601024920446912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-2138904249159554482014-12-03T20:10:00.732-05:002014-12-03T20:10:00.732-05:00Well, here's a completely different comment! ...Well, here's a completely different comment! I used to live in Miami and always "knew" that Vizcaya was built for a young woman, a Spanish girl Deering met and brought back with him; he called her "the Princess." The girl missed her world in Spain and so he build this small palace to please her. She only lived there about a year. When Deering died, the nieces threw her out. All traces of her were removed at that time. My sister was involved in the hiring of workers to repair the house. She was told that she would lose her contract if she spoke of, or asked questions about, her. She had to caution the laborers not to speak openly of her. Speaking or asking questions about her is forbidden even today and the tour guides got angry on two occasions when we asked! But you can still see signs of her influence in what was her connecting bedroom. A reference to her exists in Marion Davies' autobiography. She speaks of having visited Vizcaya and having stayed in the Princess' room. Unbelievable as it sounds, there is a notation after this comment in the book itself! An asterisk explains at the bottom of the page that Dade County does not acknowledge the existence of any Princess having stayed at Vizcaya! I would love to know the truth since the house is so remarkable. BTW, your supposition and mine are not mutually inconsistent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-80717952691984588322014-10-21T20:03:07.970-04:002014-10-21T20:03:07.970-04:00I think BECAUSE he was gay it was done so tasteful...I think BECAUSE he was gay it was done so tastefully. It's amzing, personally I was impressed more by it than by Versailles. Too sad that the cure to his vitamin deficiency was found just a year after his death....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-69832867285019947162014-08-16T19:54:57.407-04:002014-08-16T19:54:57.407-04:00Hello,
One further comment. As an architectural an...Hello,<br />One further comment. As an architectural and design historian, I firmly believe that Mr. Deering's orientation mattered a great deal in all he accomplished in his private world. It certainly informed his choice of designer and architect. The design and construction of this great house would have of constant interest to Deering, and undoubtedly he influenced the design at every turn.<br />Greg Hubbard, Chatsworth, California.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-26470242382172392102014-08-14T13:58:35.846-04:002014-08-14T13:58:35.846-04:00I noted that on the second floor piazza, there is ...I noted that on the second floor piazza, there is a window opening through<br />the wall directly into Mr Deering's bath ! His tub is just below the opening<br />window.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-984317470266050424.post-60189393948909630332014-05-18T23:47:22.267-04:002014-05-18T23:47:22.267-04:00We visited Vizcaya today and while lunching in its...We visited Vizcaya today and while lunching in its café, discussed the absence of mention of any wife or woman in the exhibits. So while sipping an iced tea, I googled "James Deering wife" and found this blog, which should be an essential part of anyone's visit to Vizcaya. Thank you.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916655631668145191noreply@blogger.com