Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1462583
A salon chat for a château. That's what Ann and Lee Hobson had in store for guests during a recent evening at their Highland Park home. The self-professed Francophiles (they've bought a getaway in Provence) were hosting Alexandre de Vogüé and his wife Jot, who shared details on Alexandre's storied family estate, Le Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. This Baroque French château is located in Maincy, near Melun, a short distance from Paris. Alexandre and his brothers, Jean-Charles and Ascanio, own and run what many recognize as one of the greatest historical monuments in France. Since its creation in the 17th century, only four families have presided over this glorious estate with gardens by Le Notre, and the estate was opened to the public in 1968. I'll set the scene: It was an intimate evening with a glorious flame in the fireplace and the spirits of Bonnard and Picasso peering down from their canvases. The gold star for the salon- chat Q&A goes to Derek Wilson, who posed an interesting question about how Alexandre and Jot handle visitors traipsing about while they're home. "We don't actually live there," Alexandre said. "We simply oversee the buildings and gardens so that our guests enjoy their visit." The Hobsons are highly regarded for their parties. I have many stories to tell of past events, my favorite being the impromptu gathering they held after the Dallas Museum of Art's grand gala dinner to fête the opening of the "Dior: From Paris to the World" exhibition in 2019. It began sometime around 11 pm with a who's who from the Dior team, along with the international jet set, including Vogue's European editor at large, Hamish Bowles, who, after finding out details of the Hobsons' home in Provence, remarked, "I know your neighbors." The roaring '20s seem to be in full swing now that the Hobsons have opened their doors for more soirées. Seen: the Hobsons' interior designer, Cathy Kincaid; Michelle and Peery Wood; Suzanne and Patrick McGee; collectors Christen and Derek Wilson; Peggy and Carl Sewell; Cornelia Guest; West Coast transplants Libby and Damian Ornani (from San Francisco) and artist and bon vivant Donald Robertson with his interior- designer wife Kim (transplants from L.A.); Dallas Museum of Art director Agustín Arteaga and husband Carlos Gonzalez-Jaime; Kimbell Museum of Art director Eric Lee and his artist wife Rima; as well as Jennifer Karol, who had just returned from a whirlwind trip to New York Fashion Week. VIVA VICOMTE LE By Billy Fong. Photography Jonathan Zizzo. Alexandre de Vogüé Michelle Wood Derek & Christen Wilson Jot de Vogüé Capera Ryan Carl & Peggy Sewell Cornelia Guest, Kim Robertson, Libby Ornani Donald Robertson Damian Ornani Ann Hobson, Billy Fong, Jennifer Karol Carlos Gonzalez-Jamie & Agustín Arteaga Eric Lee gazing at a Picasso 34