The Luxury Travel Bible - SUITE LIFE: The Savoy Suite, An Artist'sResidence

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SUITE LIFE: The savoy suite, an artist's residence

SINCE it first opened in 1889 The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, has had an association with artists and writers; Whistler even painted the hotel scaffolding when it was still a building site. Oscar Wild, Mark Twain and Emile Zola all stayed at the hotel in those heady early days –and in 1899 Claude Monet made his first visit. He painted dozens of London canvases as he sat on the riverbank near The Savoy and one likes to imagine that the view from his room inspired him too, because the legendary hotel has some of the best views in the capital. One of the rooms on the sixth floor where Monet stayed is now part of the hotel’s newest suite – The Savoy Suite, An Artist’s Residence. Monet’s old room is now part of a double-length sitting room which makes the most of the paint-worthy views over the river and the South Bank across two large windows.

In honour of its artistic connections The Savoy Suite will feature a changing private art collection by a contemporary artist adorning the walls of the suite so guests staying in the suite will have the unique opportunity to enjoy their own private exhibition within their accommodation.

First to display work in The Savoy Suite will be artist Ralph Heimans, (the only artist chosen to paint an official portrait of Her Majesty the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year). His ‘Shakespeare Revisited’ * collection of portraits will adorn the walls during this English summer. The Suite will also host regular Artist’s Salons; a chance for the artist whose work is displayed to introduce their work to guests during an informal evening event. Throughout the summer guests of The Savoy Suite will also have the unique chance to visit Westminster Abbey with Ralph Heimans for a private viewing of his portrait of The Queen, which can be viewed by special invitation only. Ralph is also available for portrait commissions and for sittings within the suite.( Price on request).

So what would Monet, or later artists who stayed at The Savoy - such as Dufy (in the’30s) and Warhol (in the’60s) - think of the interior décor? Award-winning uber-designer, Pierre Yves Rochon has created the interiors of The Savoy Suite. Edwardian influences are combined with a colour palette of creams, ivories and blacks with a contrasting cinnamon tone, in keeping with the 1930’s theme which runs through the hotel. A glass panel inserted into the bathroom wall means that you can lie back in the bath and take in the view across the river.

Perhaps it might not be colourful enough for the vibrant Monet – but we love it.

Luxury Links: www.fairmont.com

* In association with publisher Random House, Heimans has painted a series of portraits of celebrated authors commissioned to rewrite a Shakespeare play in prose, as part of Shakespeare400. The portraits, known collectively as ‘Shakespeare Revisited’, feature Margaret Atwood, Tracy Chevalier, Gillian Flynn, Jo Nesbø and Anne Tyler, and will be transferred from the Globe theatre to the walls of The Savoy Suite for summer 2016

Posted 29/6/16