Rotunda

Past the foyer, beyond two beautiful white columns, lies the Rotunda with its winding staircase to the second floor of the Mansion. Portraits of the six governors who resided in the home hang on the wall ascending the staircase. These oil over portraits were commissioned by the Foundation through Loupe Photography of New Orleans. At a fund raising event, in which five of the six governors attended, children and grandchildren of the governors unveiled the portraits. Governor Blanco's portrait has also been hung.

The wall paper in the rotunda area was designed by the design team and executed by Robert Crowder of Los Angeles. This grey green striped pattern features the fleur de lis design which is repeated in the drapery hold backs.. Especially made for the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion and the first family, the paper has been befittingly named “the Foster stripe”. The unique border surrounding this round room reveals the names of the 64 parishes of Louisiana. It was hand painted by Saskis Ozols, daughter of the mural artist.

The elegantly swagged window treatment created by the design team is made of Scalamandre’s Monroe Documentary silk, so named because it is copied from fabric hanging in the Newport Rhode Island home of New Orleanean J. Edgar Monroe, now owned by the Newport Preservation Society. The draperies are trimmed with hand made fringe from Scalamandre’. The hold back design is repeated in the wall paper.

The staircase runner, which consists of twenty six pieces of 100% wool special Rochambeau design in tapisweave loop and random sheared quality, was designed by the Foundation team with the assistance of Edward Fields. It was designed in color and content to compliment the inlaid, marble state seal on the floor of the rotunda.

The eighteen stars on the ceiling surrounding the canopy of the lantern, which also hung in the Old Governor’s Mansion and engraved with the state seal, remind visitors that Louisana was the 18th state admitted to the union. Thomas Jefferson used this ceiling treatment at his home, Monticello.

Under the staircase is a Mahogany settee, designed and hand crafted by Glen Armand. It was the first of many pieces Mr. Armand made and donated to the Foundation. The settee is a rare example of a Hepplewhite design of 1770-1780 London. It uses the trademark oval back holding the Prince of Wales feathers, brought forward by undulating serpentine arms and mating a French style seat frame. The cabriole legs bear a shell motif on the knees. This settee was constructed in 350 hours using hand tools and old world techniques.