which in turn was based on, which in turn was based on, which in turn was based on

In trying to see if I could find a replica of the Cormouls house in Canada I got distracted and ended up revisiting the career and history of Horace Trumbauer. One of the great architects of the gilded age. You might not recognize his name although you may have seen his work as he was the architect of Joan Rivers’ (much photographed) NY home:

Or perhaps you’ve seen the James B. Duke house (Doris Duke’s father) at 1 East 78th Street in Manhattan. The neoclassical place:

It’ turns out that it’s inspired by a much smaller property. An 18th century hôtel particulier in Bordeaux. Some refer to it as the Chateau Labottiere. Super chic. It’s now a (real) hotel and restaurant owned by Bernard Magrez. The pictures really caught my eye because of the combination of styles/colours/materials. If the architect of number 42 was inspired by a particular house- this was it.

Very interesting. As the first Mr. Stanton was of American old money stock, I wonder if he knew the Duke’s? If that’s what gave him the idea to build his own (smaller) version of the Chateau Labottiere? The exterior of number 42 has more in common with the Duke house. Simple rectangular windows etc. The interior is much more like the Bordeaux property. People really should document these things more carefully and make sure they’re available for future generations.