West Gallery
Reached by crossing the Grand Hall from the Jefferson Library. Gentler light here, filtered through tall windows over the south lawn, and a clock that is never quite in time with the one in the East Gallery.
The Girl in the Pink Dress
James Tissot is the house's favorite artist, and she is the favorite of their Tissots, which, in this family, is a harder title to hold than it sounds. Stand anywhere in this room and she is looking right through you.
The Queen of New Orleans
Élise hosts a society reception for former Vice President Aaron Burr. By now she is known the length of the Mississippi as “The Queen of New Orleans.”
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The Foyer
Not all visitors are welcome, and Élise let this one know in no uncertain terms. Not Tissot’s usual commission, but by his own account his best likeness of a woman who has just shot a man and still looks elegant doing it.
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The Felucca
Bought for almost nothing on a quay somewhere during the Italy honeymoon of 1880, and worth considerably more to this family than anything else on this wall. An early work, but it already has his gift for sea, sun, and wind in motion, enough of it that more than one young man in this family has heard this painting discussed at dinner and joined the Royal Navy shortly after.
Command Performance
Another Tissot the family keeps of Élise Tebieux, painted a few years after they first met, after an official posting had taken Supervía elsewhere entirely, though apparently not far enough. She is at the piano and plainly the calmest person in the room; it's everyone else, dignitaries included, doing the watching.
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