102 E Thatcher · Edmond, Oklahoma
Take the Tour
Lessons here happen inside a hundred-year-old red schoolhouse. The tour moves through composer rooms and the shared spaces between them, each painted with historic colour and filled with art from the school collection.
Historic colours throughout the school
The house before the music school
Built for learning, long before it held music lessons
This 1921 American Foursquare began as the Gregory family home, served generations of college students, and was moved across Edmond before becoming Soltani Music School.
Reverend Noah G. Gregory and Caroline “Carrie” Norman Gregory came to Edmond in 1917 so their children could attend high school and Central State Normal School, now the University of Central Oklahoma. Carrie was enrolled Creek and had been educated at the Wealaka Presbyterian Mission. Noah preached for decades in the Creek and Euchee languages and helped establish the Euchee Mission school near Sapulpa.
The Gregorys bought a corner lot at Broadway and Campbell in 1917. In October 1921, the Edmond Enterprise reported that N. G. Gregory had begun an “elegant two-story residence” there—the boxy, welcoming American Foursquare that still frames these rooms today.
For nearly three decades, the house also welcomed Central State students. Before the college opened dormitories in 1937, Carrie advertised “nice rooms for eight girls” with hot and cold water. The front rooms held family weddings, community meetings, meals, and the everyday life of a busy boarding home.
The Gregory family retained the property until 1964. By the 1980s and 1990s it was again serving Edmond’s civic and arts community, hosting events before the entire house was relocated to its present site in 1996. A home built by educators and shaped by hospitality now shelters another generation of students.
History researched from Edmond-area newspapers, property deeds, census records, family memorials, and published local history, 1917–1996.
Outside the school
Exterior & Signage
Before the tour moves indoors, the school’s exterior introduces the same visual world found throughout the building. Jeff Bowman of Oklahoma City created the logo, signage, pole banners, and composer door nameplates. Andrea Soltani directed the artwork and design of the building, shaping its colors, rooms, and collection into one experience.
7 works
No. 01
Soltani Music School Exterior
Art and building design by Andrea Soltani
The red schoolhouse at 102 East Thatcher Street, with its porch, identification sign, and paired street banners
Why it hangs hereThe tour begins at the red schoolhouse, where the building, collection, and visual identity meet before a visitor steps inside.
Artwork and building design by Andrea Soltani; school archive photograph
No. 02
Soltani Music School Logo
Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City
Primary full-color logo and wordmark created for Soltani Music School
Why it hangs hereJeff Bowman’s logo gives the school one visual language, from the street to every room.
Logo and visual identity by Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City; original digital artwork
No. 03
Exterior Identification Sign
Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City
Freestanding identification sign installed beside the school’s front porch
Why it hangs hereThe main sign translates the logo into an architectural marker that is clear from the sidewalk and street.
Signage and branding by Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City; school archive photograph
No. 04
Guitar and Violin Pole Banner
Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City
Original banner artwork combining guitar and violin forms with the word “LEARN”
Why it hangs hereA guitar and violin share one tall geometric banner, designed to read at the speed of a passing car.
Banner and branding design by Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City; original digital artwork
No. 05
Piano Pole Banner
Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City
Original banner artwork combining a keyboard with the word “PIANO” and the word “LEARN”
Why it hangs hereThe companion banner turns piano keys and lettering into a crisp vertical rhythm.
Banner and branding design by Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City; original digital artwork
No. 06
Composer Door Nameplates
Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City
Custom metal nameplates identifying the composer rooms; the Gershwin Room is shown here in context with its portrait and green door
Why it hangs hereJeff’s room nameplates carry the school’s identity from the exterior all the way to each classroom door.
Door nameplates and branding by Jeff Bowman, Oklahoma City; school archive photograph
No. 07
Artwork and Design of the Building
Andrea Soltani
Artistic direction of the school’s room palettes, artwork, frames, furnishings, textiles, lighting, and decorative displays
Why it hangs hereAndrea Soltani shaped the building as a sequence of welcoming rooms in which music, art, color, and domestic history belong together.
Artwork and building design by Andrea Soltani; school archive photograph
Tap any artwork to open its full museum plaque
Stop 1 of 9
Lobby
This is the first thing you see when you walk in. That rose color keeps going all the way up the staircase. There's a cellist playing out in the rain on this wall, and it's the one families ask about most.
No. 08
Le violoncelle sous la pluie (The Cello in the Rain), also known as Musician in the Rain
Robert Doisneau
French · April 14, 1912 – April 1, 1994 · 1957 · Gelatin silver print (photograph) · Paris, France (subject is French musician Maurice Baquet)
Why it hangs hereA cellist standing out in a Paris downpour, keeping his instrument dry. It's the first thing you see when you walk in, and that felt about right for a music school.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 09
The Music Lesson / Two Women at a Piano
Frederic Kimball Mizen
American · 1888–1964 · Circa 1940s–1950s (print) · Lithograph print (original likely oil on canvas) · Original private collection unknown; prints widely circulated
Why it hangs hereA music lesson, painted in the 1940s. It's the same thing that happens here all day long, so we hung it by the door.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 10
Summer Flowers (Fleurs d'été)
Henri Fantin-Latour
French · 1836–1904 · 1880 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York
Why it hangs hereFantin-Latour was a good friend to musicians. He painted tributes to Berlioz and to Wagner. His flowers say hello on the way in.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 11
Cello Detail Wall Art
Maker unrecorded
Decorative cello detail image with presentation plaque · Physical dedication plaque: “To Mr. Soltani, An Extraordinary Instructor. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world. Love, Javi & Jeff.”
Why it hangs hereA close study of a cello, retaining its original frame and physical dedication plaque to Mr. Soltani.
School catalogue photograph
No. 12
Painted Cabinet
Maker unrecorded
Decorative painted wooden cabinet with paneled doors and aged surface
Why it hangs hereThe painted surface and softened edges give this useful cabinet the presence of a well-traveled antique.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 13
Floral Tapestry Armchair
Maker unrecorded
Wooden armchair upholstered in a richly patterned floral tapestry
Why it hangs hereDense floral upholstery turns this armchair into a small field of color at the entrance to the school.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 14
Pink Damask Wingback Chair
Maker unrecorded
High-backed wooden chair with pink damask upholstery
Why it hangs hereIts tall profile and damask fabric bring a formal, welcoming note to the Lobby.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 15
Five-Globe Chandelier
Maker unrecorded
Brass-toned ceiling fixture with five milk-glass globes
Why it hangs hereFive softly glowing globes distribute warm light across the Lobby.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 16
Child's Floral Chair
Maker unrecorded
Small carved wooden chair with rose-patterned upholstered seat
Why it hangs hereScaled for a child, this little chair repeats the Lobby's floral patterns in miniature.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 17
Leather-Top Writing Desk
Maker unrecorded
Bow-front wooden writing desk with tooled leather top and brass drawer pulls
Why it hangs hereA tooled leather writing surface and curved front give this desk an elegant, practical form.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 18
Beaded-Fringe Table Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Ornate table lamp with mottled glass shade, beaded fringe, and cast metal base
Why it hangs hereWhen lit, the shade and hanging beads turn a practical lamp into a small theatrical object.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 19
Marble and Brass Table Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Table lamp with green marble sections, brass fittings, and fabric shade
Why it hangs hereCool green stone and warm brass balance one another in this tall table lamp.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 20
Framed Riverfront Photograph
Maker unrecorded
Black-and-white riverfront view in a raised floral frame
Why it hangs hereThe ornate pale frame gives an everyday city view the presence of a keepsake.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 21
Stained-Glass Panel
Maker unrecorded
Framed leaded-glass panel with rose, lavender, clear, and beveled geometric elements
Why it hangs hereBeveled jewels and textured glass catch the Lobby light differently throughout the day.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 22
Neoclassical Side Table
Maker unrecorded
Burl-wood side table with inlaid panels, single drawer, and tapered legs
Why it hangs hereBurl grain, inlay, and delicate tapered legs make this small table unusually elaborate.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 23
Sage-Green Tufted Velvet Sofa
Maker unrecorded
Three-seat sage velvet sofa with camelback, deep button tufting, and gold trim
Why it hangs hereThe Lobby’s sage velvet sofa combines a softly curved silhouette with gold-edged arms and deep tufting.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from a new school photograph
No. 24
Floral Vine Lobby Rug
Maker unrecorded
Ivory-ground hooked rug with muted floral vines and a wide blossom border
Why it hangs hereMuted blue, rose, gold, and green flowers spread freely across the Lobby’s warm ivory rug.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from a new school photograph
Stop 2 of 9
Debussy Room
This was the dining room back when the house was a home. Now it's a soft blue, with Monet, Renoir, Twachtman, and Childe Hassam on the walls. You don't have to know anything about art to enjoy them. Just look.
No. 25
Portrait de Claude Debussy (Portrait of Claude Debussy)
Pierre Louÿs
French · August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918 · Circa 1905 · Photographic print (originally a gelatin silver print)
Why it hangs hereThe man himself. Debussy didn't like his music being called Impressionism. We hung him in a room full of the painters he lived alongside anyway.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 26
The Artist's Garden at Vétheuil
Claude Monet
French · 1840–1926 · 1880 (some sources cite 1881) · Oil on canvas · National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Why it hangs hereMonet painted this garden in 1881, while Debussy was still a teenager sitting in class in Paris. The light never quite settles. Neither does Debussy's piano writing.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 27
A Girl with a Watering Can
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
French · 1841–1919 · 1876 · Oil on canvas · National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Why it hangs hereRenoir's little gardener is about the age of a lot of students who take their very first lesson in this room.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 28
Coastal landscape (exact title unverified)
Attributed to Frederick Childe Hassam
School collection print; exact title, date, and source remain unverified
Why it hangs hereA bright Atlantic coast scene fits naturally beside the room's Monet, Renoir, and Twachtman works.
School collection photograph; attribution under review
No. 29
The White Bridge
John Henry Twachtman
Circa 1895 · Oil on canvas · Minneapolis Institute of Art
Why it hangs hereThe bridge dissolves into mist and reflection, much like Debussy's music lets outlines blur into atmosphere.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 30
Young Girls at the Piano
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
French · 1841–1919 · 1892 · Oil on canvas · The Art Institute of Chicago
Why it hangs hereTwo girls working out a piece together at the keyboard, painted in 1892. That's this whole room in one picture.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 31
In the Meadow (Dans la prairie)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
French · 1841–1919 · c. 1888–1892 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Why it hangs hereThe same soft, unhurried feel as the Arabesques that Debussy was writing around those same years.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 32
Antique Wall Telephone
Maker unrecorded
Early wall-mounted oak telephone with separate receiver, twin bells, mouthpiece, and writing shelf; manufacturer and exact date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereA call once began by lifting the receiver, turning a crank, and asking an operator to connect the line. The oak case and metal bells make the machinery part of the decoration.
School catalogue photograph; background removed and perspective corrected
No. 33
Portrait of an Unidentified Gentleman
Photographer unknown
Sepia photographic portrait on card stock; sitter, studio, and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereHis name is gone, but the careful pose, hat, coat, and worn photograph still carry a whole personality into the room.
School catalogue photograph; background removed and perspective corrected
No. 34
Stained-Glass Floor Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Decorative floor lamp with geometric floral stained-glass shade, twin pull chains, fluted stem, and ornate circular base
Why it hangs hereIts warm glass breaks light into small shapes and colors—the visual equivalent of the atmosphere Debussy could make from a few quiet notes.
School catalogue photograph; background removed and perspective corrected
No. 35
External-Horn Phonograph
Maker and model unrecorded
Early sound-reproduction machine with oak cabinet, exposed turntable, reproducer, tone arm, and flared metal horn; exact maker and date under review
Why it hangs hereRecorded music once came through a needle, a vibrating diaphragm, and this enormous horn. No electricity or speaker was required.
School catalogue photograph; background removed and perspective corrected
No. 36
Small Wooden Cabinet
Maker unrecorded
Compact wooden cabinet with paneled door, drawer, and aged finish
Why it hangs hereA modest storage cabinet carries the warm patina of long use.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 37
Spindle-Back Chair
Maker unrecorded
Wooden side chair with turned spindles and shaped seat
Why it hangs hereIts rhythm of narrow spindles gives the chair an almost musical silhouette.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 38
Floral Glass Chandelier
Maker unrecorded
Hanging light fixture with flower-shaped glass shades and brass-toned metalwork
Why it hangs hereFlower-shaped shades scatter warm light through the pale-blue Debussy Room.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 39
Ornate Gilt Mirror
Maker unrecorded
Tall shaped mirror in an elaborate gilt frame
Why it hangs hereThe scrolling gilt frame is nearly as animated as the reflections it surrounds.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 40
Tufted Cane Armchair
Maker unrecorded
Upholstered armchair with button tufting, cane side panels, and carved wooden frame
Why it hangs hereTufted upholstery and open cane panels combine softness with a light, airy structure.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 41
Persian-Style Rug
Maker unrecorded
Decorative woven rug with central medallion, floral field, and patterned borders
Why it hangs hereThe layered borders and central medallion create a dense visual counterpoint beneath the room's furniture.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 42
Mixed Umbrella-Plant Planter
Living collection
Terracotta planter containing umbrella-plant foliage and companion growth
Why it hangs hereFresh green leaf clusters rise and spread like small parasols.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 43
Variegated Croton
Living collection
Healthy variegated croton in a simple dark planter
Why it hangs hereA lively croton with dense green, gold, orange, and red foliage, presented as part of the Debussy Room's living collection.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 44
Mixed Succulent Planter
Living collection
Low terracotta bowl planted with several varieties of rosette and trailing succulents
Why it hangs hereDifferent leaf shapes share one shallow planter like a compact botanical landscape.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 45
Begonia
Living collection
Colorful begonia with silver, green, and burgundy foliage in a terracotta pot
Why it hangs hereSilver, green, and burgundy leaves make this begonia one of the Debussy Room's most colorful living accents.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 46
Jade Plant
Living collection
Mature branching jade plant in a dark pot
Why it hangs hereA woody trunk and dense oval leaves give this succulent the form of a miniature tree.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 47
Monstera
Living collection
Monstera trained on a coir support in a pale textured planter
Why it hangs hereLarge split leaves give the Monstera a bold, sculptural presence in the Debussy Room.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 48
Spider Plant
Living collection
Variegated spider plant with arching leaves and plantlets
Why it hangs hereLong striped leaves and suspended plantlets turn growth itself into a cascading pattern.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 49
Lucky Bamboo
Living collection
Curving canes of lucky bamboo in a terracotta pot
Why it hangs hereThe bent canes and narrow leaves form an informal piece of living calligraphy.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 50
Rubber Plant
Living collection
Dark-leaved rubber plant displayed in a raised textured planter
Why it hangs hereBroad glossy leaves give this plant a strong sculptural presence.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 51
Golden Pothos
Living collection
Trailing pothos trained over a slender support
Why it hangs hereHeart-shaped leaves spill downward in a loose green cascade.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 52
Variegated Philodendron
Living collection
Striped-leaf philodendron in a white cylindrical planter
Why it hangs hereFine cream pinstripes animate each dark leaf with a hand-drawn quality.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 53
Arts-and-Crafts Oak Phonograph Table
Maker unrecorded
Narrow dark-oak side table with geometric rails, slatted sides, and record shelf
Why it hangs hereThis slim oak table supports the room’s phonograph while its lower shelf stores well-used recordings.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from a new school photograph
No. 54
Small Child’s Spindle-Back Chair
Maker unrecorded
Dark-stained child-size wooden chair with shaped seat and four spindle back
Why it hangs hereA genuinely child-size wooden chair preserves the worn surface left by years of use.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from a new school photograph
Stop 3 of 9
Tchaikovsky Room
Deep Prussian blue, with portraits, engravings, decorative objects, and a whole Nutcracker corner.
No. 55
Portrait of the Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Nikolai Dmitrievich Kuznetsov
Russian · 1850–1929 · 1893 · Oil on canvas (image shown is a photographic reproduction) · State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Why it hangs hereThe man the room is named for, with his name on a brass plate underneath. He looks a little tired in it, which seems fair for somebody who wrote three ballets.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 56
Octagonal miniature roundel, garden gathering scene
Artist unknown
Decorative miniature; date and maker unverified
Why it hangs hereA formal garden gathering evokes the theatrical world behind Tchaikovsky's ballets.
School collection photograph; attribution remains unresolved
No. 57
Octagonal miniature roundel, pastoral river scene
Artist unknown (traditional attribution to Nicolas Lancret)
Decorative miniature; date and maker unverified
Why it hangs hereIts quieter companion scene brings a pastoral pause to the room.
School collection photograph; attribution remains unresolved
No. 58
The Little Fruit Seller
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Spanish · 1617–1682 · Circa 1670–1675 (original); porcelain miniature reproduction · Porcelain miniature reproduction (original medium: oil on canvas) · Original held at the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany
Why it hangs hereMurillo painted these street kids two centuries before Tchaikovsky. His ballets are full of the same thing. Ordinary young people, caught in a beautiful moment.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 59
The Music Room
Mihály Munkácsy
Hungarian · 1844–1900 · 1878 · Oil on wood · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Why it hangs hereA Victorian music room going full tilt. Families made their own concerts at home, and that's how Tchaikovsky became a household name.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 60
Nut-cracker Proclaims His Victory Over Mouse King
Samuel P. Avery, engraver
1853 · Wood engraving
Why it hangs hereThe Nutcracker defeating the Mouse King is the scene Tchaikovsky later carried into the ballet.
School collection object photograph; public-domain reference also catalogued
No. 61
Motoring Couple
Unidentified/Unknown Photographer
Likely American · N/A (Unknown artist) · Circa 1907–1912 · Sepia-tone or black and white photograph
Why it hangs hereA couple from the world of Tchaikovsky's first audiences. Dressed up, a little formal, headed out for the evening.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 62
Portrait of a Young Boy
Unknown (typically produced by local commercial photography studios)
Likely American · N/A (Artist unknown) · Circa late 1800s to early 1900s · Tintype or ambrotype photograph, possibly with hand-tinted "crayon portrait" enhancement
Why it hangs hereA boy in his good clothes. Every kid who has ever been walked into a recital knows that feeling.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 63
Portrait Miniature traditionally identified as Adelina Patti
Unsigned reproduction
Lithographic print under convex glass; sitter attribution unverified
Why it hangs hereThe traditional identification connects the miniature with one of the nineteenth century's most celebrated singers.
School collection photograph; sitter attribution under review
No. 64
Red transferware plates
Maker unrecorded
Why it hangs hereFour plates, all of them red and white, all of them scenes. Castles, a village, a girl with her sheep, and flowers. They are the kind of thing that used to sit in a family's cabinet and only come out for company.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 65
Carved plaque of instruments
Maker unrecorded
Why it hangs hereA violin, a horn and a rolled sheet of music, all tied together. Decorators have been stacking instruments up like this for about three hundred years and it still looks good.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 66
Nutcracker
Maker unrecorded
Why it hangs hereThe Nutcracker, standing in the Nutcracker room. There is a painting of him beating the Mouse King on the same wall.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 67
Matryoshka doll
Maker unrecorded
Why it hangs hereRussian, like the composer. Our kiddos always want to open it.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 68
Portrait Miniature of a Woman
Artist unknown
Why it hangs hereWe don't know who painted it. It comes out of the same gilded world as the waltzes.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 69
Red Transferware Teacup and Saucer
Maker unrecorded
Transfer-printed ceramic cup and saucer; date and maker unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereIts patterned red surface echoes the room’s collection of nineteenth-century decorative wares.
School catalogue photograph
No. 70
Leather-Top Side Table
Maker unrecorded
Small wooden side table with green tooled-leather inset and fluted legs
Why it hangs hereA worn leather top and slender carved legs give this table a quiet elegance.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 71
Brass Chamber Candlestick
Maker unrecorded
Low brass candleholder with broad drip pan and ring handle
Why it hangs hereThe ring handle recalls the time when a candle had to be carried from room to room.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 72
Brass and Glass Chandelier
Maker unrecorded
Three-light brass chandelier with floral glass shades and crystal accents
Why it hangs hereFlower-shaped shades and crystal details turn warm light into ornament.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 73
Round Traveling Hatbox
Maker unrecorded
Vintage round case with woven body, leather straps, metal fittings, and handle
Why it hangs hereIts curved form and worn straps suggest the specialized luggage of an earlier age of travel.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 74
Sheet-Music Bookcase
Maker unrecorded
Tall double bookcase with drawers, filled with scores, method books, and teaching materials
Why it hangs hereThe working library makes the room's musical life visible: scores are not merely displayed here, but used.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 75
Paisley Textile
Maker unrecorded
Printed cream textile with blue-and-rust boteh motifs, floral border, and fringe
Why it hangs hereRepeating paisley forms drift across the cloth like variations on a theme.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 76
Tasseled Curtain Set
Maker unrecorded
Dark drapery with swagged valance, contrasting trim, tassels, and gold tiebacks
Why it hangs hereLayered folds, braid, and tassels give the window treatment a distinctly theatrical presence.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 77
Bentwood Cane-Seat Chair
Maker unrecorded
Curved wooden side chair with open-scroll back and woven cane seat
Why it hangs hereA looping backrest and woven seat make the light chair both practical and graceful.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 78
Red Medallion Rug
Maker unrecorded
Patterned red rug with central medallion and layered ornamental borders
Why it hangs hereDeep red anchors the room while the medallion and borders unfold in intricate rings.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 79
Vintage Yamaha Upright Piano and Bench
Yamaha Corporation
Warm walnut upright piano with geometric wooden music desk and matching bench
Why it hangs hereThe Tchaikovsky Room’s warm walnut Yamaha upright is distinguished by its sculptural geometric music desk.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from new school photographs
Stop 4 of 9
Waiting Area
This is where parents and siblings wait during a lesson. We filled it with art and small objects on purpose. Nobody should have to sit and stare at a blank wall for half an hour.
No. 80
Amboise, La rue des Chapeliers en 1915
Jean-Louis Guitard
School collection print; date, medium, and edition not independently verified
Why it hangs hereA quiet French street sets an easy tempo for a place where families wait during lessons.
School collection photograph
No. 81
Dancing to the Violin (Tanz zur Geige)
Traditionally attributed to Gottfried Mind
School collection print; exact work and attribution remain unverified
Why it hangs hereThe dancers answer the fiddle immediately—exactly the kind of energy that leaks out of a lesson room.
School collection photograph; attribution under review
No. 82
Costumes for a Bridal Reception
Unattributed illustrator
American · Louis A. Godey lived 1804–1878 · 1857 · Hand-tinted steel engraving or lithograph
Why it hangs hereGodey's bridal fashions. Families dressed up for their big days then the same way ours dress up for recitals now.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 83
Godey's Fashions
Unattributed illustrator (possibly adapted from French fashion plates)
American (Philadelphia-based publication) · Louis A. Godey, 1804–1878; Sarah Josepha Hale, 1788–1879 · Victorian era, likely late 1850s or 1860s · Hand-colored steel engraving (also referred to as a lithograph in vintage reproductions)
Why it hangs hereMore Godey's plates. These were the magazines mothers read in the parlor while their daughters practiced scales.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 84
Fashion plate for La Mode Illustrée
Adèle-Anaïs Toudouze
School collection fashion plate; exact issue and plate not yet confirmed
Why it hangs hereFashion plates brought Paris design into ordinary homes, much as published music brought the concert hall to the parlor.
School catalogue photograph
No. 85
Godey's Fashions — second physical plate
Illustrator unattributed
A second framed fashion plate, distinct from catalogue no. 30
Why it hangs hereThis second plate shows how widely fashion illustration circulated through nineteenth-century family rooms.
School catalogue photograph
No. 86
Domestic Music Lesson (framed print)
Artist unknown
Framed domestic music scene; artist, date, and medium unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereA quiet lesson scene mirrors the music-making happening in the nearby rooms.
School catalogue photograph
No. 87
Portrait Miniatures of Women (Pair)
Artist unknown
Pair of oval portrait miniatures in matching ornate gilt frames
Why it hangs hereTwo small portraits in matching oval gilt frames, presented together as the companion set installed at the school.
School catalogue photograph
No. 88
Medium Green Leather-Top Table
Maker unrecorded
Medium rectangular dark-wood table with green leather inset, faded gilt tooling, shallow apron, and four fluted legs
Why it hangs hereThe medium member of a matching set of green leather–top tables shared between the Waiting Area and Tchaikovsky Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school photographs
No. 89
Decorative Floral Mirror
Maker unrecorded
Ornamental framed mirror with floral decoration
Why it hangs hereIt reflects the room and the people moving through it, making the waiting area feel larger and livelier.
School catalogue photograph
No. 90
Bust of Johann Sebastian Bach
Maker unrecorded
Decorative composer bust
Why it hangs hereBach keeps watch over the shared space between the upstairs teaching rooms.
School catalogue photograph
No. 91
Decorative Desk Bell
Maker unrecorded
Small engraved metal bell with braided hanging cord
Why it hangs hereIts compact body and worn cord suggest an object meant to be both useful and ornamental.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 92
Hexagonal Brass Candlestick
Maker unrecorded
Tall brass candlestick with hexagonal base and suspended decorative weight
Why it hangs hereThe faceted base and small hanging detail enliven a simple vertical form.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 93
Carved Open-Back Armchair
Maker unrecorded
Dark wooden armchair with carved splat, scrolling arms, cabriole legs, and pale upholstered seat
Why it hangs hereOpen carving and curved legs give this substantial armchair an unexpectedly light silhouette.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 94
Pressed-Glass Oil Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Clear glass reservoir and chimney on an ornate dark metal base with brass burner
Why it hangs hereTransparent glass reveals the elegant working parts of a lamp designed before electric light.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 95
Opaline Ceiling Light
Maker unrecorded
Brass-toned ceiling fixture with broad pale glass shade
Why it hangs hereA softly glowing opaline shade distributes an even, welcoming light.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 96
Cane-Seat Settee
Maker unrecorded
Wooden two-seat bench with open splats, turned supports, arms, and woven cane seat
Why it hangs hereTwo repeated back splats give this compact settee the rhythm of a matched pair.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 97
Green-Top Occasional Table
Maker unrecorded
Small turned-leg table with green inset top and lower shelf
Why it hangs hereIts green top adds a quiet field of color to a practical occasional table.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
Stop 5 of 9
Bach Room
Our piano suite, painted a deep plum. Portraits, prints, and composer objects gather around the piano. We wanted the room to feel like the music that gets played in it.
No. 98
Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach
Elias Gottlob Haussmann
German · 1695–1774 · 1746 (original) and 1748 (copy) · Oil on canvas
Why it hangs hereThe man the room is named for, looking straight out at you with a page of his own music in his hand. Haussmann painted it the year Bach joined Leipzig's Society of Musical Sciences. It is the only portrait of him made from life that we still have.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 99
White Tonal Room Rug
Maker unrecorded
Large warm-white rug with a subtle raised scroll-and-floral texture
Why it hangs hereA white-on-white textured rug quietly softens the Bach Room beneath the piano.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 100
Asymmetric Antique-Gold Window Drape
Maker unrecorded
Muted antique-gold swag and deliberately uneven side panels on a metal rod; no sheer underlayer
Why it hangs hereThe Bach Room’s antique-gold drape is intentionally uneven, falling longer toward one side.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 101
Distressed Spindle-Back Armchair
Maker unrecorded
Tall painted wooden armchair with a carved crest, turned spindles, curved arms, and olive-gold upholstered seat
Why it hangs hereA tall spindle-back chair pairs distressed dark paint with a richly colored olive-gold seat.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 102
Small Distressed Side Table
Maker unrecorded
Compact dark-painted tray-top table with turned supports and a stretcher base
Why it hangs hereThe compact side table supports the room’s candlesticks and small reading materials.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 103
Pair of Brass Candlesticks
Maker unrecorded
Matched low brass candlesticks with tall ivory taper candles
Why it hangs hereTwo simple brass candlesticks bring a quiet candlelit reference to the Bach Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 104
Brass Candle-Arm Chandelier
Maker unrecorded
Aged brass ceiling fixture with curved arms, ivory sleeves, and flame-shaped bulbs
Why it hangs hereThe brass chandelier casts warm light over the piano and central rug.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 105
Musical Group on a Balcony
Gerrit van Honthorst
Dutch · 1590–1656 · 1622 · Oil on panel · The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center, Los Angeles, USA
Why it hangs hereMusicians leaning off a balcony, a hundred years before Bach. Playing together is the fun part. That's why it hangs over a room with two pianos in it.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 106
Capriccio with St. Paul's and Old London Bridge
Antonio Joli
Italian · c. 1700–1777 · ca. 1745 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York City
Why it hangs hereSt Paul's and the old London Bridge, back when Handel ran the music in that city. He was born the same year as Bach.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 107
Untitled
Artist unknown
Etching or engraving (black-and-white print)
Why it hangs hereA tall clock, a chandelier, and a small figure putting on a show for a woman in a long dress. Half the fun is not knowing what is going on.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 108
Architectural Capriccio with Roman Ruins and Figures, a matched pair of panels
Giovanni Paolo Panini
Italian · 1691–1765 · c. 1730s–1740s · Oil on canvas
Why it hangs hereColumns and arches stacked up carefully, one on top of another. It looks about the way a fugue sounds.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 109
Portrait of a Young Pilgrim (Jeune Pèlerin)
Alexis Grimou
French · 1678–1733 · c. 1725 or 1732 (sources vary) · Oil on canvas · Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, France
Why it hangs hereThe companion to the pilgrim girl next to him. Grimou painted a whole series of these young pilgrims in costume, and they were never meant to be anyone in particular. They were meant to be looked at.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 110
Lute Player (Le Joueur de luth)
Valentin de Boulogne
French · 1591–1632 · ca. 1625–1626 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Why it hangs hereA lute player, lit like a concert down in a cellar. Bach wrote suites for that instrument. This is the oldest musical subject in the house.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 111
The Music Lesson (framed reproduction)
Artist unknown
Framed reproduction of a domestic music lesson; source work unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereTeacher and pupil make the room’s purpose immediately recognizable.
School catalogue photograph
No. 112
Young Pilgrim Girl
Alexis Grimou
French · c. 1730 · Oil on canvas
Why it hangs hereIts companion portrait and warm Old Master palette suit the Bach Room’s candlelit atmosphere.
High-resolution public-domain museum scan
No. 113
Composer Bust Collection
Maker unrecorded
Group of decorative composer busts
Why it hangs hereA small gathering of musical ancestors turns the shelf into a miniature portrait gallery.
School catalogue photograph
Stop 6 of 9
Mozart Room
A small bedroom in King's Red, layered with portraits, porcelain, and the feeling of music made at home.
No. 114
Portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Barbara Krafft
Austrian · 1764–1825 · 1819 · Oil on canvas · Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Society of Friends of Music), Vienna, Austria
Why it hangs hereKrafft painted this almost thirty years after Mozart died, working from what his family remembered and from earlier likenesses. It is the picture of him nearly everyone carries in their head.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 115
Red Medallion Room Rug
Maker unrecorded
Large deep-red rug with repeated blue-and-ivory oval medallions, narrow geometric borders, and pale fringe
Why it hangs hereThe Mozart Room’s red medallion rug organizes the center of the room beneath its furnishings.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 116
Burgundy and Gold Curtain Treatment
Maker unrecorded
Layered burgundy swags and antique-gold patterned drapery arranged asymmetrically over the window
Why it hangs hereLayered burgundy and gold drapery gives the Mozart Room window its theatrical character.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 117
Compact Wooden Harpsichord
Maker unrecorded
Warm brown harpsichord with open lid, simple music desk, single keyboard, and stretchered legs
Why it hangs hereA compact wooden harpsichord gives the Mozart Room an instrument associated closely with eighteenth-century music.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 118
Dark Wood Display Hutch
Maker unrecorded
Tall cabinet with a scalloped fan crest, glass upper door with curved muntins, and lower storage doors
Why it hangs hereA tall dark-wood hutch provides display and storage within the Mozart Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 119
Coat and Powdered Wig Display
Maker unrecorded
Dark wooden valet stand dressed with a red period-style coat and a long white curled wig
Why it hangs hereA red coat and powdered wig turn the Mozart Room’s valet stand into a playful eighteenth-century character display.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 120
Small Dark Wood Side Table
Maker unrecorded
Compact rectangular table with a plain top, narrow apron, turned legs, and small casters
Why it hangs hereA compact dark-wood table serves the room’s larger golden-seat chair.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 121
Golden-Seat Carved Chair
Maker unrecorded
Warm brown side chair with carved crest rail, pierced vertical splat, cabriole front legs, nailhead trim, and golden upholstery
Why it hangs hereA carved chair with a golden upholstered seat brings an older domestic form into the Mozart Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 122
Small Harpsichord Chair
Maker unrecorded
Slender wooden chair with turned back spindles, stretchered legs, and a pale blue-gray upholstered seat
Why it hangs hereThe compact upholstered chair sits directly at the Mozart Room harpsichord.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 123
Brass Scroll-Arm Chandelier
Maker unrecorded
Brass ceiling fixture with scrolling candle arms, ivory sleeves, flame-shaped bulbs, and a hanging ring finial
Why it hangs hereA polished brass chandelier gathers the Mozart Room’s gold accents at the ceiling.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 124
The Mozart Family (Portrait of the Mozart Family)
Johann Nepomuk della Croce
Austrian · 1736–1819 · Late 1780–early 1781 · Oil on canvas · Mozart Museum (Tanzmeisterhaus), Salzburg, Austria
Why it hangs hereWolfgang and his sister Nannerl at the keyboard together, their father Leopold standing with his violin. The portrait on the wall behind them is their mother, who had died two years before this was painted. A family that made music in the house, which is the whole idea here.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 125
The Gore Family with George, 3rd Earl Cowper
Johan Zoffany
British · c. 1775 · Oil on canvas · Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Why it hangs hereA family gathered around music and conversation brings the intimate world of eighteenth-century chamber music into the Mozart Room.
High-resolution museum scan; identification corrected from the school’s earlier working title
No. 126
Château of Monceaux / Month of December, from Les Maisons Royales
Charles Le Brun
Getty Research Institute, accession 85.DD.309
Why it hangs hereThe palace scene places Mozart's world of court music into an architectural setting.
School catalogue photograph; exact Getty record verified
No. 127
Portrait Bust of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Maker unrecorded
Decorative portrait bust; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereThe composer’s likeness anchors the room’s smaller domestic objects.
School catalogue photograph
No. 128
Blue Floral Porcelain Plate
Maker unrecorded
Blue porcelain plate with gilt floral decoration; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereIts delicate pattern adds a bright visual counterpoint to the room’s deep red walls.
School catalogue photograph
No. 129
Blue-and-Gold Porcelain Creamer
Maker unrecorded
Decorative porcelain creamer with gilt handle and floral ornament; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereA small household object reinforces the room’s feeling of music made at home.
School catalogue photograph
No. 130
Floral Porcelain Gravy Boat
Maker unrecorded
Painted porcelain serving piece; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereA practical household object becomes part of the room’s ornate period atmosphere.
School catalogue photograph
No. 131
Framed Junk-Ship Decorative Panel
Maker unrecorded
Framed decorative panel with a gilt junk-ship motif; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereIts intricate frame and compact scene reward the same close attention as chamber music.
School catalogue photograph
No. 132
Multicolor Floral Porcelain Plate
Maker unrecorded
Painted porcelain plate with multicolor floral border; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereThe lively border brings another measured rhythm of color to the display.
School catalogue photograph
No. 133
Framed Rococo Miniature
Artist unknown
Decorative framed miniature; sitter, artist, and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereSmall-scale portraiture invites the kind of intimate attention associated with chamber music.
School catalogue photograph
No. 134
Painted Decorative Tin
Maker unrecorded
Decorative painted metal tin with a pastoral scene; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereThe painted container turns an everyday object into a miniature gallery.
School catalogue photograph
No. 135
Floral Teacup and Saucer
Maker unrecorded
Painted porcelain cup and saucer; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereThe set reinforces the Mozart Room’s feeling of music made in a gracious family home.
School catalogue photograph
No. 136
Miniature Grand Piano Music Box
Maker unrecorded
Miniature black-and-gold grand piano music box with hinged decorated lid, ornamental keyboard, and exposed cylinder mechanism
Why it hangs hereWith its lid open, this tiny ornate piano reveals the pinned cylinder, comb, and gears that produce its music.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue composite from three school photographs, with the holding hand removed
Stop 7 of 9
Beethoven Room
Golden walls, and Beethoven looking back at you from two different portraits. There are views of the Rhine in here too, and of Bonn, where he was born.
No. 137
Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven when composing the Missa Solemnis
Joseph Karl Stieler
German · 1781–1858 · 1820 · Oil on canvas · Beethoven-Haus museum, Bonn, Germany
Why it hangs hereThis is THE Beethoven portrait. Stieler, 1820, pencil in hand. Just about every picture of him you have ever seen comes from this one.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 138
Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ferdinand Schimon (original painter)
German/Hungarian · 1797–1859 · Original painting 1818–1819; this lithograph likely mid-to-late 19th century · Lithograph on paper · The original oil painting is held by the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Germany
Why it hangs hereSchimon painted Beethoven from life around 1819. He was almost completely deaf by then, and working on the Missa Solemnis.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 139
Patterned Room Rug
Maker unrecorded
Warm ivory, dusty rose, muted gold, and taupe rug with three decorative panels and a central floral medallion
Why it hangs hereThe Beethoven Room’s large patterned rug warms the floor beneath the piano and seating group.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 140
Matched Teal Curtain Set
Maker unrecorded
Two matched dark teal window treatments with gathered valances, side panels, and white sheers
Why it hangs hereThe matched teal curtains frame the room’s windows and intensify its cool, quiet palette.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 141
Baldwin Upright Piano
Baldwin Piano Company
Polished walnut upright piano with a fan-pattern music desk and three pedals
Why it hangs hereA warm walnut Baldwin upright piano forms the musical center of the Beethoven Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 142
Brass Candle-Arm Chandelier
Maker unrecorded
Polished brass ceiling fixture with scrolling candle arms and flame-shaped bulbs
Why it hangs hereA brass candle-arm chandelier provides a warm focal point above the Beethoven Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 143
Sunset on the Rhine
Barend Cornelis Koekkoek
Dutch · 1803–1862 · 1853 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Why it hangs hereThe Rhine at sunset. That's the river Beethoven grew up on.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 144
Moonrise over the Sea (Mondaufgang am Meer)
Caspar David Friedrich
German · September 5, 1774 – May 7, 1840 · Circa 1822 · Oil on canvas · Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany
Why it hangs hereFriedrich and Beethoven were born four years apart. If any painting in this house has earned the word Moonlight, it's this one.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 145
Bonn, view from the banks of the Rhine
Jakob Wilhelm Christian Roux
Circa 1825 · Engraving · Beethoven-Haus Bonn, B 2096
Why it hangs hereRoux shows Beethoven's birthplace from the Rhine while the composer's lifetime was still within living memory.
Exact Beethoven-Haus reference image; reuse terms should be verified
No. 146
Ansicht der Stadt und Gegend von Bonn (View of the City and Surroundings of Bonn)
Johann Andreas Ziegler
German-Austrian · 1749–1802 · 1798 · Hand-colored etching (Umrißradierung)
Why it hangs hereAnother view of Bonn and the country around it, engraved back when Beethoven was still a young man playing viola in the orchestra there.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 147
Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Jacques-Louis David
French · August 30, 1748 – December 29, 1825 · 1801–1805 · Oil on canvas
Why it hangs hereDavid painted Napoleon calm on a rearing horse, which is not at all how the crossing went. He went over on a mule, led by a guide. It is a good reminder that a picture is an argument, not a photograph.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 148
Die Pfarrkirche und Gottesacker auf der Landstrasse
Johann Andreas Ziegler
Print · Wien Museum
Why it hangs hereZiegler's view extends the room's map of Beethoven's Central European world beyond Bonn.
Wien Museum CC0 scan
No. 149
Landscape Painting
Artist unknown
School collection; title and artist not yet confirmed
Why it hangs hereA quiet landscape adds another visual pause between lessons.
School catalogue photograph
No. 150
Illuminated Manuscript Facsimile
Maker unrecorded
Decorative facsimile after a medieval illuminated manuscript
Why it hangs hereMusic and the written page have shared rooms for centuries.
School catalogue photograph
No. 151
Quill and Inkwell
Maker unrecorded
Decorative metal writing set with glass inkwell and feather quill
Why it hangs hereA small reminder that every score begins as marks on a page.
School catalogue photograph
No. 152
Candle Wall Sconce
Maker unrecorded
Decorative wall sconce
Why it hangs hereIts warm, upward light suits a room devoted to music shaped at the edge of the Romantic era.
School catalogue photograph
No. 153
Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven
Maker unrecorded
Decorative composer bust
Why it hangs hereThe sculpted portrait gives Beethoven a physical presence among the room’s painted and printed images.
School catalogue photograph
No. 154
Blue Floral Teacup and Saucer
Maker unrecorded
Painted porcelain cup and saucer; maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereThe cool blue pattern balances the room’s golden walls and landscape paintings.
School catalogue photograph
Stop 8 of 9
Beatles Room
Wood panels all the way around, with green on the doors and the trim. Abbey Road, Liverpool, and a Penny Lane street sign. Six pieces. This is the room our teenagers ask for.
No. 155
Abbey Road (album cover photograph)
Iain Macmillan
1969 · Photograph · Album-cover artwork remains copyrighted
Why it hangs hereMacmillan made six frames from a stepladder on Abbey Road; one became an instantly recognizable piece of music history.
School collection reproduction; album artwork copyright applies
No. 156
Cream Shag Room Rug
Maker unrecorded
Large warm-cream rectangular rug with a deep irregular shag pile
Why it hangs hereA deep cream shag rug brings unmistakable midcentury texture to the Beatles Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 157
Midcentury Side Table
Maker unrecorded
Warm-wood side table with raised edge, lower shelf, tapered legs, and brass-colored feet
Why it hangs hereA compact midcentury side table whose warm wood and tapered legs complement the Beatles Room's paneling.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 158
Penny Lane street-sign display
Maker unrecorded; referencing Lennon–McCartney's song
Decorative display assembled from a Liverpool street-sign motif
Why it hangs hereThe room starts with the name of a real Liverpool street that became a song known everywhere.
School collection photograph
No. 159
Maroon Lake (traditional title)
Attributed to Carl Hoerman
School collection print; title and attribution remain unverified
Why it hangs hereA wide-open landscape gives this energetic room somewhere quiet to rest the eye.
School collection photograph; attribution under review
No. 160
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
Frank Jay Haynes
American · 1853–1921 · Circa late 19th century · Hand-colored photograph (typically an albumen silver print)
Why it hangs hereHaynes photographed these falls long before anybody wrote The Long and Winding Road. Same wide open country every touring musician stares at through a windshield.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 161
The Beatles albums — photos and album list
Maker unrecorded
Modern commemorative reproduction combining photographs, discography, and facsimile signatures
Why it hangs hereThe albums themselves are framed like the documents they have become.
School collection photograph; underlying photographs and artwork remain copyrighted
No. 162
Sunburst Mirror
Maker unrecorded
Decorative convex mirror in a radiating frame
Why it hangs hereIts bold circular form feels at home among the Beatles Room’s mid-century objects and wood panelling.
School catalogue photograph
No. 163
Metal Wall Plaque Pair
Maker unrecorded
Pair of square relief plaques with stylized musical imagery
Why it hangs hereDisplayed together, the two reliefs read like a compact visual duet.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 164
Crocheted Blanket
Maker unrecorded
Handmade multicolored crocheted blanket with repeating geometric motifs
Why it hangs hereBands of color and repeated stitches bring the room the warmth of handmade domestic craft.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 165
Midcentury Lounge Chair
Maker unrecorded
Low wooden lounge chair with upholstered seat and back
Why it hangs hereThe chair's low profile and clean lines suit the room's midcentury character.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 166
Orange Loveseat
Maker unrecorded
Compact upholstered loveseat in warm orange fabric
Why it hangs hereWarm orange upholstery echoes the honey-colored wood paneling of the Beatles Room.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 167
Five-Globe Floor Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Brass-toned floor lamp with five spherical glass shades arranged on branching arms
Why it hangs hereFive globe shades rise at different heights like notes placed across a staff.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 168
Brass Table Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Decorative brass-toned table lamp with shaped shade and ornamental base
Why it hangs hereA compact pool of warm light complements the room's wood and record-player cabinetry.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 169
Brass Owl Set
Maker unrecorded
Matched set of two small brass owl figures
Why it hangs hereThe two owls belong together: their repeated shapes make a playful matched pair.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 170
Round Pleated Pillow
Maker unrecorded
Circular decorative pillow with radiating pleats and central button
Why it hangs hereRadiating folds turn a small cushion into a crisp geometric accent.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 171
Record Player Console
Maker unrecorded
Wooden console cabinet with integrated turntable and audio controls
Why it hangs hereThe console brings the history of listening into the room where recorded music is part of the subject.
School catalogue photograph; background removed, perspective corrected, and color balanced
No. 172
Two-Tier Linen Drum Ceiling Light
Maker unrecorded
Illuminated two-tier natural linen flush-mount ceiling fixture
Why it hangs hereA softly glowing double linen drum fixture complements the Beatles Room’s warm wood paneling.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from a new school photograph
Stop 9 of 9
Gershwin Room
Cream walls and a green door. Gershwin is in here at the piano, along with Gauguin, Cezanne, Picasso, and Rousseau. It holds the biggest mix of styles anywhere in the house.
No. 173
[Portrait of George Gershwin]
Carl Van Vechten
American · 1880–1964 · 1937 (specifically March 28, 1937) · Gelatin silver print
Why it hangs hereVan Vechten photographed Gershwin over and over. This is the composer seen by somebody who actually knew him.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 174
George Gershwin at the Piano
George Gershwin
American · 1898–1937 · c. 1934–1936 · Oil on canvas · National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Why it hangs hereGershwin painted as well as he played, and he painted himself doing the thing he did best. He is at the keyboard with a lamp on and the room quiet around him. That is most of what a practice hour looks like.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 175
Untitled (candid portrait of two men)
Unidentified amateur photographer (possibly a family member or friend)
Undetermined · Likely circa 1930s–1950s, based on the subjects' clothing and photographic style · Black-and-white photograph (likely a silver gelatin print) in a contemporary tiered wooden frame · Private collection; displayed in a home setting
Why it hangs hereA candid shot out of Gershwin's world of rehearsal rooms and rolled up sleeves.
Photographed and scanned here at the school
No. 176
The House with the Cracked Walls
Paul Cézanne
French · 1839–1906 · 1892–1894 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York City
Why it hangs hereCezanne used the crack running down the front of the house to hold the whole picture together. Most painters would have left it out. He built on it.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 177
Three Musicians
Pablo Picasso
1921 · Oil on canvas · Museum of Modern Art, New York
Why it hangs hereThree Cubist musicians, painted three years before Rhapsody in Blue, put the decade into paint.
Reference image; artwork copyright applies
No. 178
Gardanne
Paul Cézanne
French · 1839–1906 · c. 1885–1886 · Oil on canvas · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Why it hangs hereCezanne broke the rules of painting about the same way Gershwin broke the rules of the concert hall. Carefully, and so completely that nobody could go back.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 179
Myself: Portrait-Landscape (Moi-même, portrait-paysage)
Henri Rousseau
French · 1844–1910 · 1890 · Oil on canvas · National Gallery Prague, Prague, Czechia
Why it hangs hereRousseau was a toll collector who taught himself to paint, and the Paris avant garde took him in. Plenty of people come to music sideways too.
High-resolution public-domain scan
No. 180
Decorative Landscape Panels (Pair)
Maker unrecorded
Pair of Asian-style landscape panels; exact maker and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereThe paired scenes reward the kind of close looking that music asks for too.
School catalogue photograph
No. 181
Village Landscape Painting
Artist unknown
School collection; title, artist, and date not yet confirmed
Why it hangs hereThis compact village scene brings the outside world into the school.
School catalogue photograph
No. 182
Cubist Pianist Sculpture
Maker unrecorded
Carved wooden sculpture of three interlocking musicians
Why it hangs hereThree figures and one shared instrument make ensemble playing visible.
School catalogue photograph
No. 183
Tropical Garden Painting
Artist attribution under review
School collection; title and artist not yet confirmed
Why it hangs hereIts dense garden scene adds color and imagination to the shared spaces.
School catalogue photograph
No. 184
Cathedral-Style Tabletop Radio
Maker unrecorded
Vintage arched wooden radio; model and date not yet confirmed
Why it hangs hereBefore streaming, radios brought music directly into the family room.
School catalogue photograph
No. 185
Pierced Covered Bowl
Maker unrecorded
Black-and-gold decorative covered bowl
Why it hangs hereA small decorative object whose repeated pattern has its own visual rhythm.
School catalogue photograph
No. 186
Egyptian-Style Cat Figurine
Maker unrecorded
Decorative cat figure with colored collar details
Why it hangs hereThis watchful little figure is one of the many objects families notice between lessons.
School catalogue photograph
No. 187
Gold Glass Bowl
Maker unrecorded
Shallow decorative bowl with an intentionally aged metallic finish
Why it hangs hereIts worn, reflective surface changes with the light throughout the day.
School catalogue photograph
No. 188
Elephant Bookend
Maker unrecorded
Black ceramic decorative bookend with silver accents
Why it hangs hereA useful object made playful, tucked among the school collection.
School catalogue photograph
No. 189
Classical Bust with Abstract Linework
Maker unrecorded
Decorative classical-style bust with white linear surface design
Why it hangs hereThe old form and modern surface make a lively contrast.
School catalogue photograph
No. 190
Abstract Musical Composition
Pablo Picasso
Modernist print with abstracted string instruments and musical forms
Why it hangs hereA jumble of musical shapes that feels at home in a building full of sound.
School catalogue photograph; artist identification supplied by Soltani Music School
No. 191
Decorative Table Lamp
Maker unrecorded
Black vase-form lamp with floral and bird decoration
Why it hangs hereWarm light and hand-painted detail help the school feel like a home.
School catalogue photograph
No. 192
Felt Hat
Maker unrecorded
Tan felt hat with black ribbon
Why it hangs hereOne of the personal decorative objects that gives the building its lived-in character.
School catalogue photograph
No. 193
Decorated Wooden Box
Maker unrecorded
Vintage wooden box with inset theatrical scene
Why it hangs hereA small stage scene preserved on an everyday object.
School catalogue photograph
No. 194
Two Child Profile Studies
Artist unknown
Graphite on paper; sitter, artist, and date unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereTwo careful studies of childhood in a school built around young artists.
School catalogue photograph
No. 195
Village Landscape Painting (Second Work)
Artist unknown
Framed landscape painting; artist, date, and location unconfirmed
Why it hangs hereIts clustered buildings and layered color add another visual rhythm to the room’s eclectic modern collection.
School catalogue photograph
No. 196
Modern Striped and Textured Room Rug
Maker unrecorded
Ivory low-pile rug with narrow charcoal stripes, a warm-brown textured field, and a broad pale border
Why it hangs hereThe Gershwin Room’s contemporary rug combines precise dark stripes with a broad warm-brown block beneath the piano.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue reconstruction from school room photographs
No. 197
Baldwin Hamilton Upright Piano and Bench
Baldwin Piano Company
Glossy black Baldwin Hamilton upright piano with matching bench
Why it hangs hereA polished black Baldwin Hamilton upright provides the musical center of the Gershwin Room.
Soltani Music School collection; catalogue image reconstructed from new school photographs
Come see it in person
Pictures only go so far. We built the school like our home, so it's a place for families to come and enjoy music and community. Our own four kiddos take lessons here, and so do our parents and nephews. Come take a look around.
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