Imagined as the interior of a 1960’s doyenne of Upper East Side polite society, the San Francisco native conceived a motif depicting a menagerie of animals from the city’s zoo abounding within her exquisite garden, having escaped their lesser lodgings in Central Park.
Painted expertly by hand by de Gournay’s in house artisans, the scene conjures a magnificent spectacle across almost 30 panels: each taking up to 150 hours to complete. Based on the elaborate narrative vistas of 19th century European wallcoverings, this attention to detail is typical of all de Gournay’s scenic designs.
Penguins, Monkeys, Parrots and Flamingos jostle amidst the lush vegetation, alongside specimens from even wilder climes: zebra’s, Leopards, Tigers and Giraffes – even a Polar Bear, standing with regal poise yet surrounded by verdant Spring flowers.
