Home > Stories > Remembering Berenson > On Meeting Berenson

Bernard Berenson was not a man of great physical stature, yet he had an imposing presence and made a great impression on those he met. Below are memories, mostly first impressions, from those who met him in the 1940s and 1950s.



William Mostyn Owen

BB: "Come sit here till someone more important comes"


Nelda Cantarella Ferace

The Salvemini and Smith connection. BB 'Attractive and wickedly witty'


Walter Kaiser

A nervous young student comes to meet Mr. Berenson


Michael Rinehart

BB at Tea


Myron Laskin

The warmth of I Tatti - in the Library and thanks to a grilling by BB


Angiolino Papi

Meeting Mr. Berenson on his walks (in Italian)

Translation


Liliana Ciullini

Starting to work at I Tatti -1947 - bowties and Berenson [in Italian]

Translation


John Walker
(as told by Gillian Walker)

How BB became a father figure for John Walker


Luisa Vertova

BB adopts an unwell young art historian (interview by Mary Landor)

Transcription

Next: Life at the Villa: 1930's and 40's