Part 5/9:
By 1911, Speyer had solidified his position among New York's elite, commissioning the renowned architect Horace Trumbauer to design his opulent residence on Fifth Avenue. The house was a marvel of design and craftsmanship, inspired by the lavish Louis XIV style, and overseen by talented designers like Julian Abel, one of America’s first professionally trained African American architects.
The interiors, crafted by Ogden Codman Jr., featured gilded moldings, painted murals, and sumptuous furnishings, creating an ambiance of regal splendor. The mansion housed one of the most significant private art collections in America, including works by Rembrandt, transforming the estate into a cultural treasury.