“In a rich man’s house there is no place to spit but his face.” 

—Diogenes 

The Armstrong-Kessler Mansion on Forsyth Park 

The subject of successful men and the monumental mansions they build in celebration of their self-image is a matter best left to cynics like Diogenes. I’ll only add that such mansions are great fun to paint en Plein air — especially when located at the mouth of Forsyth Park in beautiful Savannah. 

Three notable men have been associated with the incomparable Armstrong-Kessler Mansion: 

Born nearby in Effingham County in 1868, George Ferguson Armstrong became a prominent and popular member of the Savannah business community during a career involved in mining, shipping, and banking. Armstrong was widely recognized for his maritime ingenuity while serving as an executive of the Strahan Shipping Company and widely credited with successfully directing the development of the Savannah port and facilities through The Great War years as a member of the U.S. Shipping Board. 

Between 1916 and 1919, Armstrong hired Savannah architect Henrik Walling to design and general contractor Olaf Otto to build this fabulous granite and glazed-brick Italian Renaissance mansion on the corner of Bull and Gaston in the Historic District. It was foot for foot the equal of any mansion in the country. It also was likely the most expensive home ever built in Savannah. 

George Armstrong died in early 1924 from lung cancer. Years later, in 1935, his remarried widow, Lucy Camp Armstrong Moitz, and her daughter, Lucy Armstrong Johnson, donated the Armstrong Mansion to the City of Savannah to house the new Armstrong Junior College. 

In 1959, Armstrong became part of the Georgia University System. In 1966, the now four-year college moved to the south-side of Savannah. Today, that campus is part of Georgia Southern University. 

In Spring 1967, the second notable man associated with this mansion, Jim Williams, purchased the Armstrong Mansion from the Historic Savannah Foundation. It was among the 50 houses that Williams restored in the Savannah area; the only one built in the Twentieth Century. 

The subject of John Berendt’s book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil that brought so much renewed attention to Savannah (see PFS #1), Jim Williams did a masterful job restoring the Armstrong Mansion to its preeminence. For some years, he ran his antique business from the location and — quite naturally — held a number of his infamous black-tie parties on these premises, as well. 

In 2017, luxury hotel entrepreneur Richard C. Kessler became the third notable man to take possession of this mansion and joined the exclusive club of notable Savannahians. 

Previously, I painted for this en Plein air series the magnificent Mansion on Forsyth Park (see PFS #3), which is part of The Kessler Collection of fabulous hotels. The Bohemian Hotel, located on the Savannah riverfront, is the newest addition to that hotel collection. I’m delighted to mention that The Grand Bohemian Art Gallery, wonderfully emplaced within these hotels in both the Savannah and Charleston location, feature for sale some of my more abstract works of art.  

When viewing The Armstrong-Kessler Mansion, be sure to note the surrounding iron fence and the impressive gates inspired by Buckingham Palace, together with the massive bronze front doors and the handcrafted windows skillfully manufactured 100-years ago that remain timeless to this day.