Villa Finale
Villa Finale, originally built in 1876, was restored in the late 1960s by preservation visionary Walter Mathis, who lived in the home until his death in 2005. The preservation of Villa Finale led the way for the revitalization of the beautiful and stately King William neighborhood, a National Historic District. Today, Villa Finale houses the extraordinary collection of Mr. Mathis, which includes Napoleonic materials; art and furniture from Texas artists; and American and European fine and decorative arts.
Villa Finale is under development and is not currently open to the public at this time. Keep track of their renovation process on their blog.
From Villa Finale's Blog
Visitor Center
Villa Finale’s Visitor Center is among the many items we have to tackle. Located roughly three blocks from Villa Finale, the Visitor Center will not only be the place to introduce Walter Mathis and his work, it will also be the perfect place to create rotating exhibits of interest for tourists and the residents of [...]
The King William Social
Last night we hosted the King William Social here at Villa Finale. We had over 100 neighbors and friends attend the social, a quarterly event hosted by the King William Association. I was reminded once again of what a singular neighborhood this is - of course by the conviviality of the event! - but also because [...]
Introducing “Restoring Voices:” Villa Finale’s oral history project
After ordering and testing audio equipment, creating the necessary forms, and writing and rewriting the project’s mission statement (and then rewriting it some more), I am proud to announce that Villa Finale will finally be kicking off its oral history project called Restoring Voices, this Wednesday evening July 2nd at the King William Social. That [...]
It’s Actually Lazarus!
Mark van Gelder called yesterday to tell us some VERY interesting news about our big painting. He had done some research, as he likes to do when he receives a painting to conserve.
Mr. Mathis had always told his guests that the painting depicted “Lazarus and the Rich Man”, and that it was painted by Peter Paul [...]
A Painting Conserved: Foul Fowl
Until this past Wednesday, there was a painting that hung in the center hallway above a heavy sofa decorated with glassy-eyed wooden lions. The title: “Servants Preparing Fowl and Fruits for Their Master”. But it was difficult to tell who was the servant and who was the master, and as a matter of fact, what was a [...]
Regional Events
Pueblo Places and Faces,
09/22/07
Acoma,
New Mexico
Pueblo Places and Faces: A Lifetime of Photography by Lee Marmon. A selection of 88 works by Lee Marmon, the official photographer of the Pueblo of Acoma for decades. The photos are a mixture of people, landscapes, families and tribal leaders from the past six decades.
Regional Sites
Acoma Sky City, Acoma, New Mexico, National Trust Historic Sites
Adobe Churches of New Mexico, San Antonio, New Mexico, 11 Most Endangered
Bartlesville, OK, San Antonio, Oklahoma, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs National Park, San Antonio, Arkansas, 11 Most Endangered
Bisbee, AZ, San Antonio, Arizona, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
E.I. Couse Historic Home and Studio, Taos, New Mexico, Historic Artist Homes & Studios
Eight Historic Dallas Neighborhoods, San Antonio, Texas, 11 Most Endangered
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, San Antonio, New Mexico, 11 Most Endangered
Elisabet Ney Museum, Austin, Texas, Historic Artist Homes & Studios
Eureka Springs, AR, San Antonio, Arkansas, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Fair Park's Texas Centennial Buildings, San Antonio, Texas, 11 Most Endangered
Fredericksburg, TX, San Antonio, Texas, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Galveston, TX, San Antonio, Texas, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
George Kraigher House, San Antonio, Texas, 11 Most Endangered
Gold Dome Bank, San Antonio, Oklahoma, 11 Most Endangered
Guthrie, OK, San Antonio, Oklahoma, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Historic Courthouses of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, 11 Most Endangered
Las Vegas, NM, San Antonio, New Mexico, Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Little Rock Central High School, San Antonio, Arkansas, 11 Most Endangered
Los Caminos del Rio Heritage Corridor, San Antonio, Texas, 11 Most Endangered
