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The interiors of the El Mirasol mansion contained a wealth of Herter Art, much of which remains undocumented, while others have found homes in the most prestigious of museums.
Albert and Adele Herter lived much of their lives in Santa Barbara at the prestigous 'El Mirasol' Herter family estate. They both played a prominent role at this Herter estate -decorating the interiors of the El Mirasol mansion in 1909 and again in 1914, placing great emphasis on ‘art created by the Herters’. Albert and Adele Herter entertained and hosted community cultural events at this estate. Famous artists, poets from around the world and America’s elite families visited the El Mirasol Herter estate. This also served in promoting 'quality Herter artwork to their wealthy clients’. Together with his talented wife Adele, Albert Herter traveled to Santa Barbara in 1909 to help his mother decorate the new Herter family mansion known as 'El Mirasol'. They decorated the Herter family estate with artwork created by the Herters. The property showcased 'Herter Art' and paid tribute to Albert's father, Christian Herter of the 'Herter Brothers'. Herter art from this estate can be found the the finest museums and art collections from around the world, including the Smithsonian Museum. The Herter art at the El Mirasol was diverse, and was described as "exquisite, each is a masterpiece of its kind." Consisting of an entire five acre city-block in the heart of Santa Barbara, the "El Mirasol" estate was truly an elegant property. It was known as 'the House of Herter Art'.
El Mirasol hosted America's elite families and famous artists from around the world. Built at the turn of the century, the property featured choice artwork by Christian Herter and his talented family, including the artists Albert and Adele Herter. Albert and Adele Herter decorated the Herter mansion with their fine oil paintings, murals and breathtaking wall coverings. The main rooms of this grand estate had elaborately designed tapestries and stenciled curtains by Albert Herter's Herter Looms. Albert Herter selected the Spanish name 'El Mirasol' (The Flower in the Sun) in respect to his father Christian Herter's love of the sunflower motif -which is often found in his masterworks. The HERTER and TIFFANY families had a long relationship, and this continued with their sons, Albert Herter and Louis Comfort Tiffany. They combined their talents in creating the 'Herter Lions' stain glass Tiffany windows (see web-link for more detailed photos).
Albert Herter designed these twelve stain-glass windows for the new Herter estate in 1909. They were crafted by Louis Comfort Tiffany, executed by Tiffany Studios, and proudly displayed in several rooms within the Herter mansion. These arch-top stain-glass windows were 'jeweled' and hung over interior double-doors, and featured two lion heads with Sunflower star-burst manes. In the mansion's Persian Room, the Herter-Tiffany Windows were framed by sunflower motif wallpaper designed by Christian Herter of the Herter Brothers. When Mary Herter died in 1913, the estate was left to her son, Albert Herter. He converted this five acre estate into the luxury 'El Mirasol Hotel' in 1914, and designed the El Mirasol 'sunflower keychain' (see photo left), and redecorated the estate and the surrounding 14 villas with artwork created by Albert and Adele Herter, in addition to other California artists. Albert Herter often painted his famous guests in elaborate costumes, including an oil painting of his friend, Robert Louis Stevenson (Stevenson's wife moved and later died at the El Mirasol). Many of the interior walls featured fine tapestries by Albert Herter, in addition to two self portraits, and a large oil painting of his wife, Adele Herter. One of Albert Herter's self-portraits from this estate now hangs at the Smithsonian Museum ("Albert Herter in Costume of Hamlet", 1900 - see photo TOP page). The El Mirasol contained 'Herter Looms' tapestries and stenciled curtains. Albert Herter designed two 'Gold Stenciled' red velvet curtains in 1909. Each measure nine foot square in size and hung in the Herter Library. They were said to be Albert's rendition of the 'Herter Family Crest'. Well respected in their own rights, both Albert and Adele Herter combined their talents in decorating the El Mirasol's Persian and Cactus Rooms. Albert and Adele Herter designed and painted the unique wallpaper for the Cactus Room. The Cactus Room was once described by Frank Lloyd Wright as being "the finest wallcovering I have ever seen". The Cactus Room featured an American western desert landscape painted on individual tea wrappers which encircled the room. In this most unusual artform, the Herters selected antique Chinese silver-foil tea wrappers and highlighted with gold-leaf. This became an eluminating landscape with a richness of depth. The Herters also designed the Persian Room, which featured wall murals beautifully painted by Albert and Adele Herter. These Persian themes were also conveyed in tapestries by Albert Herter. The Persian Room was highlighted with Sunflower motif wallpaper designed by Christian Herter of the Herter Brothers.
Glass played an important role in the Persian Room. In addition to the large leaded glass atrium above, the Persian Room was encircled by colorful stain glass windows designed by Albert Herter and executed by Louis Comfort Tiffany's Tiffany Studios. The leaded glass atrium brought the stain glass windows to life in the Santa Barbara sunlight. The El Mirasol Hotel operated as a luxury hotel serving America's elite families and famous artist from around the world, from 1914 until a fire destroyed the property in 1969. This grand Hotel had two formal dinning rooms, two cocktail lounges, conference rooms, and served as a gathering point for Santa Barbara cultural events. The exteriors were equally elegant with five acres of unique plants, trees and garden walkways in the heart of Santa Barbara. Surrounding this Herter estate were three additional five-acre city blocks, which were city-parks and gardens. There was not a more prestigous estate in Santa Barbara.
Adele Herter died at the Herters' Long Island home in 1946, and Albert Herter later died at the El Mirasol Hotel in 1950. Their love of art remains with us today, and their Herter masterworks can be found the the finest museums and art collections around the world, including the Smithsonian Museum. Review web-links for additional photos and historic background Assist us in documenting the art from this wonderful estate.
Select Link Above This website contains photos which are copyright Photo Above 'Albert Herter in Costume of Hamlet', 1900 |
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The main Herter mansion was surrounded by fourteen smaller villas which served as accommodations for their famous guests. 
