Dead and Gone

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This painting

was proudly owned by

Victor Gail

He passed away a few years back

and I took this photo

while he was still alive

I was helping him

paint the interior of his house


On Park Avenue

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It was more like a museum than a house that contained many items that eventually made
their way to The Huntington, his home was combination late 18th century and early 19th century through and through. He even had a huge wooden fireplace that made me feel like I was in a time machine and traveled back 150 years. He loved collecting Rare examples of early American needleworkas seen on display at the museum


I was asked to move many items to make space to paint the wall and it was a bit nerve wracking, it wasn't just that fact that if I broke something it was irreplaceable, or the fact that some of the items were worth well into the million dollar range but the fact that he was so nervous he was watching and directing my every move. The canopy bed was the tricky part, it wasn't exactly frail but sliding it across the room with the very little assistance he gave well into his 80's at the time was not easy

"Now be very careful with this piece, it's priceless and very fragile"

These were the words I heard all morning long, and than all evening long while putting every thing back, after the second coat of paint which seemed to distract him after everything was put back in place

"The man at the store assured me the paint would cover in one coat"

I reassured him over and over that it was fine and I was just glad that nothing got broken. I got an earful of every story behind each piece and how he acquired it, which was much more interesting to me. Call it an unusual fascination with things

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Every detail in his house was "old"

even the candles and sticks

The furniture was old

the vases, suitcases and clocks still ticking

for longer than a century

He too had grown old but felt young

surround by items of great age I suppose

I think he enjoyed treasuring items that would

be appreciated long after he was gone


People would remember him by the quality of the items in his collection rather than who he was as a person. I am a collector of many things, and I hope to be remembered by who I am rather than the things I collect, Although my things will be here after I am dead and gone.