PRESERVING VIZCAYA’S TREASURES
VIZCAYA GARDENS’ SECOND CENTURY
Vizcaya continues to prioritize stewardship with a wide range of art conservation and architectural preservation projects. Thousands of objects, tens of thousands of archival materials, and significant historical structures all need customized and constant care. Thanks to our generous donors, in the last year we have made significant progress in preserving some of Vizcaya’s most iconic collections for future generations. Vizcaya Garden Centennial Projects: Several projects honored the centennial of the completion of Vizcaya’s gardens, and restoring the Marine Garden to its original appearance has been a priority. The creation of high-quality replicas to replace the long-missing Gaston Lachaise-designed Peacock Columns is underway and the Samuel Yellin gates are being re-created. The monumental mural on the ceiling of the Garden Mound Casino—a portion of which is attributed to the studio of Italian Baroque painter Tiepolo and the remainder of which was completed by Swiss-American artist Paul Thevanez for Vizcaya—also received extensive conservation treatment. Swimming Pool Grotto Ceiling: A milestone has been reached in the conservation of Robert Winthrop Chanler’s swimming pool grotto ceiling. In June, a team of conservators completed the stabilization of the most vulnerable decorative elements of the mural and the installation of environmental monitoring equipment. The team also achieved full conservation treatment of a pilot section of the ceiling, demonstrating what the mural will look like after the entire surface is conserved. In September, the coral stone wall surfaces within the pool grotto were treated, which included addressing extensive staining, stabilizing loose areas and patching losses. Paintings in the Galleon Sitting Room: In June, conservators completed an extensive treatment of five landscape paintings from the 1700s that fill the walls of the Galleon sitting room. Environmental elements such as dust and humidity led to their gradual deterioration over the years. The fragile canvases were stabilized, discolored varnish lifted, and previously painted interventions were removed, revealing the original vibrant colors. The treatment also revealed details in the compositions that were long obscured. Upcoming Projects: In the coming year, we are planning an extensive restoration of Vizcaya’s beloved Welte pipe organ and adding additional climate-controlled storage for archival and object collections.
Vizcaya’s European-inspired gardens are among the most elaborate in the United States and celebrated their centennial in 2022. As the Horticulture Department steers Vizcaya’s gardens into their second century, we are thrilled to highlight significant achievements. New Horticulture Hub: The Paint Shop and its surrounding areas—located in the Vizcaya Village—have been transformed into the new center for team Horticulture, complemented by a spacious nursery facility—a feature not present at Vizcaya since the 1920s. Diverse Plant Care: Within these new facilities, the focus will be on the nurture of critically endangered Caribbean tree and shrub species, overseeing the nation’s most extensive collections of cast iron plants and physic nut species, and cultivating a wide range of edible plants from seeds and cuttings. These additions will grace our expanding edible gardens. Restoring Our Ecosystem: At the southern edge of Vizcaya Village, we are replicating the pine rockland ecosystem, reminiscent of the landscape that once covered much of Vizcaya’s original 180 acres. We are also partnering with local gardens to expand the species’ diversity. Orchid Collection: Our orchid collection has flourished remarkably, establishing us as the home to the largest and most diverse collection of Cattleya orchids in the United States. Preserving the Main Gardens: A multi-year undertaking is in progress to restore the main gardens to their 1920s’ splendor. Our objective is to ensure they remain accessible, stunning, and above all, resilient for the next century. Volunteers: Volunteers through HandsOn Miami participate in weekly gardening events on Thursdays and on the first and third Saturday of each month. Volunteers work with Vizcaya’s team of horticulturists to maintain the historic gardens and native habitats. Working together since 2008, Vizcaya welcomes approximately 750 volunteers each year through HandsOn Miami and the organization is now helping us to identify individuals who wish to volunteer directly with us on a recurring basis.
The recently completed pilot section of the swimming pool grotto ceiling demonstrates how the mural will appear after full conservation treatment.
A conservator in the process of removing varnish and grime from the upper left and lower right of a landscape painting in the Galleon sitting room.
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