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Elsie de Wolfe, also known as Lady Mendl,〔"Lady Mendl" was frequently used by the press during her married life. "Elsie de Wolfe" is the name that appears as author of her published books; modern biographers usually use this form of the name. "Lady Elsie de Wolfe Mendl" is mentioned by ''The Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement,'' volume 20, Gale Group, 2000. "Ella Anderson de Wolfe" is given by the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as her name "in full," adding "married name 'Lady Mendl'"()〕 (December 20, 1859?〔Ella A. DeWolfe, age 1, is found on the 1860 United States Federal Census〕〔"LADY MENDL DIES IN FRANCE AT 84," July 13, 1950, p. 25. (Birth, death dates: with regard to her date of birth, the Times says she "rarely discussed her childhood" and "differences of opinion existed... one source said she was born on Dec. 20, 1865 on West Twenty-Second Street, a daughter of Stephen de Wolfe, a physician of Wolfville, N. S., and Georgiana (Copeland) de Wolfe of Aberdeen, Scotland.")〕〔 – July 12, 1950) was an American actress, interior decorator, nominal author of the influential 1913 book ''The House in Good Taste,''〔Ghostwritten by Ruby Ross Wood: Abercrombie, Stanley (1999), "100 Years That Changed Our World," ''Interior Design'' 12/1/1999, as presented online () In 1913... Elsie de Wolfe publishes her book ''The House in Good Taste'', based on previously published articles ghost written for her by Ruby Ross Wood. In 1914, Ruby Ross Wood and Rayne Adams write ''The Honest House''.〕 and a prominent figure in New York, Paris, and London society. According to ''The New Yorker'', "Interior design as a profession was invented by Elsie de Wolfe," although the praise is not strictly true. De Wolfe was certainly the most famous name in the field until the 1930s, but the profession of interior decorator/designer was recognized as a promising one as early as 1900,〔Candee, Helen Churchill, ''How Women May Earl a Living'', New York: Macmillan & Co, 1900, pp. 103-105.〕 five years before she received her first official commission, The Colony Club in New York. During her married life (from 1926 until her death in 1950) the press often referred to her as Lady Mendl. She was born in New York and died at Versailles, France. == Career == In the 18th century, interior decoration was the purview of upholsterers, (who sold fabrics and furniture), and architects, (who employed a variety of craftsmen and artisans to complete interior design schemes for clients). By the late 19th century, the skills of designers such as Candace Wheeler and design firms like the Herter Brothers were well known. While Elsie de Wolfe was not the first interior decorator, she reaped maximum publicity through her social and commercial contacts, becoming the field's most famed practitioner of the early 20th century. Among de Wolfe's distinguished clients were Amy Vanderbilt, Anne Morgan, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Henry and Adelaide Clay Frick.〔http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1026/is_3_168/ai_n15661727〕 She transformed the interiors of wealthy homes from dark wood, heavily curtained palaces into light, intimate spaces featuring fresh colors and a reliance on 18th-century French furniture and accessories.〔Flanner, Janet (1938) "Handsprings Across the Sea," ''The New Yorker,'' 1938-01-15, as posted online (): "Twenty years after () she had made a million and an international name by inventing the new fashionable profession of interior decorating.〕〔Webster, Katherine (2001) "A Decorator’s Life: Elsie De Wolfe 1865 – 1950", Canadian Interior Design website ()( "the first lady of interior decoration," "without question the first woman to create an occupation as designer")〕〔Webster, Katherine (2001) "A Decorator’s Life: Elsie de Wolfe 1865 – 1950", Canadian Interior Design website ()〕〔: "Considered the mother of interior decoration" is from a synopsis of this book, attributed to "Book News, Inc., Portland, OR," at bookseller's website ().〕〔Cummings, Mary (2004), "The Interior Realm of the Hamptons."()("Stretching things...")〕 In her autobiography, de Wolfe — born Ella Anderson de Wolfe and the only daughter of a Canadian-born doctor —called herself a "rebel in an ugly world." Her sensitivity to style and color was acute from childhood. Arriving home from school one day, she found her parents had redecorated the drawing-room: :She ran ()... and looked at the walls, which had been papered in a () Morris design of gray palm-leaves and splotches of bright red and green on a background of dull tan. Something terrible that cut like a knife came up inside her. She threw herself on the floor, kicking with stiffened legs, as she beat her hands on the carpet.... she cried out, over and over: "It's so ugly! It's so ugly."〔; (Reaction to Morris wallpaper, p. 2-3)〕 Hutton Wilkinson, president of the Elsie de Wolfe Foundation, clarifies that many things de Wolfe hated, such as "pickle and plum Morris furniture," are prized today by museums and designers. “De Wolfe simply didn't like Victorian, the high style of her sad childhood," Wilkinson said, "and chose to banish it from her design vocabulary."〔Wilkinson, Hutton (2004) note in , p. 225〕 Elsie de Wolfe's first career choice was that of actress. She originally appeared with The Amateur Comedy Club in New York City as Lady Clara Seymour in "A Cup of Tea," (April 1886), and as Maude Ashley in "Sunshine," a one act comedy by Fred W. Broughton (December 1886). Her success led to a full-time theatrical career, making her professional debut in Sardou's ''Thermidor'' in 1891, playing the rôle of Fabienne with Forbes-Robertson.〔New International Encyclopedia〕 In 1894 she joined the Empire Stock Company under Charles Frohman. In 1901 she brought out ''The Way of the World'' under her own management at the Victoria Theatre, and later toured the United States in the role.〔 On stage, she was neither a total failure nor a great success; one critic called her “the leading exponent of the peculiar art of wearing good clothes well.”〔Franklin, Ruth (2004) "A Life in Good Taste: The fashions and follies of Elsie de Wolfe," ''The New Yorker,'' Sept. 27, 2004.()〕 She became interested in interior decorating as a result of staging plays, and in 1903 she left the theater to launch a career as a decorator.〔"Elsie de Wolfe to Wed Sir Charles Mendl; Their Wedding Set for Tomorrow in Paris," The New York Times, March 9, 1926, p. 1: early career as actress, "most widely known women in New York social life."〕 Undoubtedly one of the first interior designers, Elsie De Wolfe is considered by some to have invented the occupation, although evidence reveals the profession existed before she made her considerable name. Through her efforts, American homes were introduced to a succession of sophisticated yet simple ideas, generally based on Elsie's preference for late 18th century French style. Many elements aided her in becoming such an influential figure in the emerging field - her social connections, her reputation as an actress and her success in decorating the interior of the house she shared with her close friend, Elisabeth Marbury. Preferring a brighter scheme of decorating than was fashionable in Victorian times, she helped convert interiors of dark, heavy draperies and overly ornate furnishings into light, soft, more feminine rooms. She made a feature of mirrors, which both illuminated and expanded living spaces, brought back into fashion furniture painted white or pale colors, and indulged her taste for Chinoiserie, chintz, green and white stripes, wicker, Trompe-l'oeil effects in wallpaper, and trellis work motifs, suggesting the allure of the garden. As de Wolfe claimed: “I opened the doors and windows of America, and let the air and sunshine in.” Her inspiration came from 18th century French and English art, literature, theater and fashion.〔 Elsie de Wolfe's taste was also practical, eliminating in her schemes the clutter that occupied Victorian homes, enabling people to entertain more guests comfortably. She also popularized the ''chaises longue'', faux-finish treatments, and animal print upholstery. In 1905, Stanford White, the architect for The Colony Club and a longtime friend, helped de Wolfe secure the commission for its interior design. The building, located at 120 Madison Avenue, (near 30th Street), would become the premier women's social club on its opening two years later, much of its appeal owing to the interiors de Wolfe arranged. Instead of the heavy, masculine overtones then pervasive in fashionable interiors, Elsie used light fabric for window coverings, painted walls pale colors, tiled the floors, and added wicker chairs and settees. The effect centered on the illusion of an outdoor garden pavilion. (The building is now occupied by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.)The success of the Colony Club proved a turning point in her own life and career, launching her fame as the most sought-after interior decorator of the day.〔〔Gray, Christopher (2003), "Streetscapes/Former Colony Club at 120 Madison Avenue; Stanford White Design, Elsie de Wolfe Interior," ''The New York Times'', September 28, 2003 ()〕 Over the course of the next six years, Elsie designed interiors for many prestigious private homes, clubs and businesses on both the East and West coasts. By 1913, her reputation had grown so that her studio took up an entire floor of offices on 5th Avenue. That year she received her greatest commission - from coal magnate Henry Clay Frick, one of the richest men in America at the time. On his retirement, he moved from Pennsylvania to New York City, where his mansion was constructed by Thomas Hastings between 1912 and 1914. Sir Charles Allom, known for his work remodeling Buckingham Palace, was engaged to decorate a number of rooms on the first floor of the home, while Elsie was hired to arrange the second floor, including the sleeping quarters. Earning a steep commission for every piece of art or furniture she purchased for Frick, Elsie became a very rich woman. Elsie de Wolfe continued to design interior spaces for notable clients, and wrote regularly for the press, including a column in ''Good Housekeeping'' and feature articles for ''Vogue''. During World War I, she volunteered as a nurse in France, for which service she won the Croix de Guerre. It wasn't until nearly the end of her career that, at the age of 61, Elsie married. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Elsie de Wolfe」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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