THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 22, 1995 TAG: 9506200100
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Scott McCaskey
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
The estate would look quite in place on the River Thames in England.
But the shores of the Lafayette River are home for the Hermitage Foundation Museum.
Standing at the end of a shadowy lane off North Shore Road in the Lochhaven section of Norfolk, this splendid English Tudor-style mansion offers a tangible sojourn to medieval times. Visions of knight games on the grassy grounds come easily to the imagination.
Built in 1908 as a summer retreat for worldwide art collectors William and Florence Sloane, the home turned museum is literally a work of art inside and out.
The exterior is a classic blend of medieval and renaissance architecture that characterized the 16th century Tudor period. Rounded arches, shallow moldings and extensive paneling complement a framework of ivy-covered brick, distinctive hand-carved woodwork and stained glass from European castles.
Part of the Hermitage's 12 acres are surrounded by winding brick walls. Manicured lawns, formal gardens and millstone plazas roll toward water oaks and bamboo draping along the river. The site looks more of Norfolk County, England, than Norfolk, Va.
Inside, the estate is equally ``old world.'' Any nobleman would feel quite comfortable warming his hands in front of the fireplace in the great hall. The table in the dining room is made from the flooring of an old English castle. In the music room, a Mohler pipe organ is hidden by a rood screen. Vistas of the Crusades are carved into the limestone fireplace.
The engraved panels, decorative motifs and elaborate wood carving took master English craftsmen C.J. Woodsend and M.F. McCarthy the better part of the first quarter of this century to complete.
``The flavor of the house is the hand-carved woodwork of the English craftsmen,'' said Phil Morrison, the Hermitage's executive director.
While the estate is undeniably Tudor in design, the art is an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures and artifacts from around the world. A sixth century 700-pound Chinese marble Buddha sits in the main hall. Antique Oriental rugs lay throughout the home's 41 rooms. There are Russian icons encrusted with jade and rubies.
Among the most valuable items are 2,000-year-old Chinese bronzes dating to the Shang Dynasty. Sixteenth century Spanish merchant chests inlaid with ivory and velvet and harboring secret drawers elicit intrigue. Chinese lavender jade and figurines so meticulously carved that a magnifying glass is needed to see the details are other highlights in a phalanx of old treasures.
But all at the Hermitage is not of the past. Art exhibitions, programs and classes are held throughout the year. A display of original paintings by John James Audubon is among past national shows. An annual miniature exhibit is held by the Tidewater Artist Association. Sculpture, weaving and photographic displays are among the eight to 10 shows a year.
Art classes in a variety of disciplines are held in studios that were once horse stables. All programs and classes are open to the public for nominal fees.
Weddings and art-related social gatherings also are part of what makes the Hermitage such an asset.
``We're one of the best places in town to have a wedding,'' Morrison said.
In the future, the Foundation hopes to provide an expanded format of activities, possibly including a new wing to increase capacity. The great hall, now used for exhibitions, can hold only about 80 people.
``We want to become a better resource for community,'' Morrison said. ``We need a space large enough to accommodate a sizable audience.''
The Foundation is a private organization and is operated under an endowment left by the Sloane family. An executive board, made up primarily of local art enthusiasts, administers the museum's activities.
At $4 a tour, the Hermitage is a bargain and a convenient escape to another time and place. But despite its novelty and all the site has to offer, like other attractions on the Norfolk Tour, the museum goes unheralded by many citizens, remaining quietly dignified with its coffers of art and history.
``It's the best-kept secret in Norfolk,'' Morrison said. ``Even with all we do and have, a lot of citizens don't even know it exists. MEMO: AT A GLANCE
The Hermitage Foundation Museum is located at 7637 North Shore Road.
Tours are offered 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for those age 6 through 18.
Military personnel and children under 6 are admitted free. by CNB