Yesterday was a grey and rainy day in New York. In the late afternoon, the sky had that white-grey you see before a snowfall, evoking nostalgia, but it was not nearly cold enough for even flurries.
New York magazine this week has a cover story by Steve Fishman about the last days of Brooke Astor and The Will. And the Son. And the Daughter-in-law. And Annette. As in de la Renta. None of it is new, even the things that have not yet seen print until now. The son, Tony Marshall, when in charge of his mother’s estate (when she was still compos mentis), had increased its value from $19 to $82 million. He was compensated by her for it ($450,000 a year) and she also gave him several million and an apartment and eventually her estate in Maine. By the time of her death, her entire estate was worth many millions with her son her principal heir.
The main issue of contention seems to be some codicils which Mrs. Astor allegedly added in a sound state of mind in the early 2000s. These substantially cut her bequests to the Metropolitan Museum and to the New York Public Library, both of which had already received substantial sums during her lifetime (the Library received about $25 million from her and the Vincent Astor Foundation). These reductions would benefit Mrs. Astor’s son, the most, and of course, his wife Charlene as his widow (Mr. Marshall at 83 is 20 years senior to his wife).
Brooke Astor
There’s a villain in every corner, depending on how you look at it. It’s either the Marshalls, or Philip Marshall the grandson who first complained to Mrs. de la Renta about his grandmother’s neglected care, or the forces of Mrs. de la Renta and Henry Kissinger and David Rockefeller which are questioning the final Will. Or the 52 lawyers (that’s right, FIFTY-TWO!) who all will be billing with their nominal fees. These are all big time lawyers too, so you can be sure that they have already eaten up millions and millions of the Astor estate. You can also be sure that before this is over the lawyers’ fees will exceed what Mrs. Astor was originally going to leave to the Met and the Library.
The New York article dwells on the Marshalls’ side of the story since they were available to the reporter and Mrs. de la Renta wisely was not. So there is speculation such as “why” Mrs. de la Renta was so concerned about Mrs. Astor’s welfare. Charlene Marshall is quoted as suggesting that Annette de la Renta was social-climbing in her relationship with the much admired dowager. This is, of course, utter nonsense. The truth of that matter is probably far more complex than you or I will ever know.
One thing is certain: after a long life as the only child of this powerful woman (in terms of personality and drive, the Astor fortune notwithstanding), the octogenarian son has been held up to public scrutiny and embarrassment about his caring for his mother, as if he were less than loving and attentive over a long lifetime. No doubt his mother would have shared his horror of airing the family laundry in public also.
For a man of Tony Marshall’s generation, upbringing and culture, this matter must be deeply wounding. It is acknowledged that his mother was right-minded about parenting, and supportive, but not exactly as warm and fuzzy a mother as she was a social doyenne who loved the limelight and the public adoration. Her son and only child was also never the center of her attention, as her own memoirs attest. That was the nature of the woman. Meanwhile, the son’s most distinguishing characteristic was one of service and responsibility. He was an obedient all his life, acceding to his mother’s wishes and needs. He was also a dutiful Marine and later an Ambassador (to Madagascar under Nixon). His mother’s influence apparently was everywhere.
All of this has been reduced to public judgments of neglect and greed and an ineffectual personality by others who are not members of Mrs. Astor’s family.
As I’ve pointed out in previous postings, the Astor fortune has historically been plagued by this sort of thing. Nobility reigns in the minds of the pursuers and family members are plagued by outsiders. Brooke Russell Kuser Marshall Astor was regarded as an “outsider” by many members of her late husband’s clan. She was criticized by members of the family for it. It was assumed by outsiders, however, that these family members were just jealous that they’d been left out of Vincent Astor’s Will. And maybe that was the bottom line. And maybe it wasn’t.
When you get to the end of the Fishman article you will see that it has nothing to do with Mrs. Astor’s last days (which were relatively peaceful and comfortable compared to many others of her generation). You will see that it’s simply all the about the money for all of the players. Including the virtual army of lawyers. Mr. Dickens would have loved this one.
Meanwhile, there is an amusing little known chapter in the dowager’s final days before she became non compos mentis. At about the time of her centenary, a younger man, by which I mean a man who was about a half century younger than she, made a proposal of marriage.
Yes. True. He was a friend, an occasional dinner companion, a not infrequent guest at her dinners, someone who amused and charmed her with both his personality and his good looks.
Then one day he took her out to dine and confessed that he was madly in love with her and had thought about it and thought about it and decided to propose. His ardor was illustrated with his suggestions of how much fun they could have together, how the age difference didn’t matter and how he could care for her and look after her, all the while sharing a May (or was it February-December) romance.
Mrs. Astor was said to be charmed by this “proposal” although she didn’t take it seriously. Until. Her suitor began showering her with flowers and ardent messages about their glowing future together. Considering what we now know and considering her age, it does sound a little daft. Nevertheless, the suitor was said to be very serious. Could he too have become yet another codicil in the Final Will?
We all know the end of that story although we’ll never know what provoked the beginning. Harold and Maude? Anything’s possible.
Time and Mother Nature ruled out anymore galloping down the aisle for Brooke Astor. Instead she’s left behind a saga of a Southern Belle who lived through the entire 20th century and rose to heights of public adoration and admiration that even Scarlett O’Hara would have envied.
It’s Art Market week in New York right now and there are parties all over the city every night. Last night Beth DeWoody hosted a party for ARTWALK2007, the auction which will take place Tuesday November 27th at the Metropolitan Pavillion. Co-chairs for the evening are Richard Gere, Carey Lowell, and Kayce Freed Jennings. The Artist Honoree is Donald Baechler and the Event Honorees are Arthur and Alice Kramer.
ARTWALK NY is now in its 13th year. It is one of the city’s biggest and most anticipated annual art benefit auctions. The funds they raise go to help the homeless men, women and children living in New York City. Aside from being a great cause, everyone involved loves the experience. At the forefront is a man named Simon Watson, an ebullient and enthusiastic collector/gallery owner/ connoisseur, who is curator of the auction. Its inventory is highly regarded in major collecting circles. Many famous artists have participated in the auction including Brice Marden, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Chuck Close, and Yoko Ono.
Guests enjoying Zarela's cuisine in the DeWoody library.
The buffet in the dining room.
Mrs. DeWoody is one of the most active and prominent collectors of Contemporary Art in New York, and maybe the country for all I know. She and I are old friends and she’s been a collector of stuff all her life. She’s one of those individuals who is impassioned about the creative process and its talent.
It’s my personal opinion that if she weren’t an heiress, she’d be one of the kind of artists that she collects; she has that force of personality. Her collection is taking on monumental numbers. She is very fond of emerging artists. There were some there last night, and everyone was right at home.
Anna Bergman singing a Neapolitan love song (loosely translated) "Don't forget me ... "
The buffet dinner was prepared by the hostess’ friend, restaurateur Zarela all Mexican, Zarela’s rendition, that is; all spicey and delicious. Guests found places to sit all over the far-flung art-filled apartment.
Then, after dinner, Beth introducd Anna Bergman, a cabaret singer with a beautiful operatic range. Ms. Bergman, whom Beth first heard in concert at the Metropolitan Pavillion, sang four songs including Don McLean's “Starry Starry Night,” and an aria from Puccini’s La Boheme.
It was, from the vantage point of this observer with camera, a perfect scene of an party in the art world of New York, in the perfect setting of big, bright rooms full of astonishing, amazing, challenging, funny, crazy, witty Contemporary Art, all acquired and housed by this woman I’ve known since her youth who grew up to become a force in this world. New York New York, it’s a Wonderful town ... www.coalitionforthehomeless.org
Clockwise from top left: Zarela at the head of the table laid out with her cuisine; The Zarela buffet; Guests dining in the gallery; Honoree, artist Donald Baechler and curator (the very jolly) Simon Watson.
The emerging artist Yoga at work recording the party.
Clockwise from top left: Ethan Cohen, Howard Read, and Ranbir Singh observing Yoga drawing them (in the picture above); The Zarela-DeWoody staff at work; Guests dining in the living room, north, and south (yellow painting).
