FAF celebrated its gift of the historic Venetian Room to the Cultural Services of the French Embassy

On June 30, the French-American Foundation celebrated its gift of the historic Venetian Room to the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. The Venetian Room, located on the ground floor of the former Payne Whitney Mansion on Fifth Avenue, is a New York City landmark from the end of the Gilded Age. Decorated with mirrored panels, delicate latticework, and ornate furniture, the room was designed by architect Stanford White. It was donated to the French-American Foundation in 1997 and restored in 2018 with the help of the Cultural Services and the World Monuments Fund.

The French-American Foundation’s gift to the Cultural Services symbolizes continued friendship between France and the United States, and between the two Franco-American institutions. The signing ceremony took place inside the Venetian Room itself. French-American Foundation Chairman Allan Chapin joined the Ambassador of France to the US, Philippe Étienne, for a champagne toast. Leaders from the French Embassy, the Cultural Services, the French Consulate, and the French-American Foundation attended.