Huguette Clark estate to become a museum

The verdict is in, the will has been read, and the people of Santa Barbara can rejoice. Huguette Clark has left the people of Santa Barbara her 23 acre estate.
Congratulations. In addition Ms. Clark's art collection will be housed here for viewing at any time. This is huge, wonderful news for those who had hoped to be able to enjoy this wonderful property. If you have followed this story on this blog, you know that is what I had hoped for and now our wish has been granted. The estate has been given to all of us.

Huguette Clark died in New York last month at the age of 104. Her will, obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press, reveals that artworks by Renoir, John Singer Sargent and other greats will be moved from her New York home to the Santa Barbara property.

Her will revealed that Clark left most of her $400 million fortune to the arts. The museum will be run by the new Bellosguardo Foundation, named after the Santa Barbara property. Bellosguardo means "beautiful view" in Italian.

Clark had not set foot on the estate for more than 50 years before her death.

It is unknown when a museum might open at Bellosguardo. In Santa Barbara, the Mayor, Helene Schneider called the idea "a crowning jewel in our city's artistic heritage" and said she would offer the city's aid "in making Huguette Clark's wishes become a reality."

Wonderful news. Thank you Huguette Clark. May you rest in peace knowing that your home will be enjoyed by those who visit it.

(***Some historical photos from circa 1920 of the exterior of the Bellosguardo estate in Santa Barbara from the USC Library can be seen below. ***)

Photograph of an exterior view of the Bellosguardo estate in Santa Barbara, ca.1920. A two-story building -- the Child Estate whose land later became a bird refuge and zoo -- can be seen on a hill partially obscured by trees to the left of center. The hill is bordered at right by a body of water, while a field and mountains can be seen in the right background. Plants and trees are visible in the foreground.
Originally, the image had the following title: "Exterior view of the Bellosguardo estate in Santa Barbara, later a bird refuge and zoo". The Bellosguardo estate, however, was never turned into a bird refuge or a zoo. It was sold to William A. Clark in 1923 for $300,000 and, 10 years later, Mrs. Clark had the house torn down to make way for a new home designed by Reginald Johnson, architect of Santa Barbara’s main post office and the Biltmore Hotel.



Another of the exterior below shows tables and chairs on a stone outdoor patio at center. A building with pillars can be seen at left attached to the patio, while bushes and trees line the patio at right. What appears to be the ocean and mountains are visible in the background.