Last night – at the Bath-based American Museum of Britain – l shook hands with a man who has rubbed shoulders with some of the rich and famous of the celebrity-filled past – on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nicky Haslam was a ‘socialite’ before he became an interior designer and could also ‘dress’ a lavish party as well as any room in a house belonging to Rod Stewart or Ringo Star.
But further back his circle included everyone from Andy Warhol to Lena Horne. There was Cecil Beaton, Marilyn Monroe and Douglas Fairbanks to add to his memories. Artist, Salvador Dali, the Duchess of Windsor and Cole Porter also appear in his past.
But, for the present he was officially opening a fabulous exhibition of painted interiors by an amazingly talented artist called Jeremiah Goodman who – for the past seven decades – has become known for his evocative gouache paintings that ‘interpret’ the homes of international luminaries and spaces created by design leaders the world over.
Though they mixed in similar celebrity circles this is one artist Nicky didn’t get to know until a few years ago – but he’s a great fan of Jeremiah’s work.
Jeremiah was born in 1922 in upstate New York and is considered to be one of the world’s finest illustrators of interiors.
Unfortunately he was not well enough to travel to this exhibition of his work – the first in this country – which has been curated by Dean Rhys Morgan.
It will run at the American Museum in Britain – based at Claverton Manor in Bath – through to July 1st.
For further information www.americanmuseum.org and www.JeremiahGoodman.com
