Home is where the art is.
On Southampton’s prestigious Gin Lane, the light-filled estate that pop star Roy Lichtenstein long shared with his philanthropist wife Dorothy has been listed for $19.99 million, according to an eye-catching update on listings portal Out East.
This offering comes approximately 27 years after the death of Roy – who remains famous for his bold works inspired by newspaper ads and comic strips, painted with bold outlines and Ben-Day dots – at the age of 73.
The listing came about two months after the death of Dorothy – the co-founder and president of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, which donated more than 1,000 of his works to local and international museums, notably the Whitney in New York, which alone has about 400.
Dorothy died on July 4 at the age of 84 of heart failure after a brief illness, according to her obituary in the New York Times, and it appears that she died in this house – which was their primary residence.
On top of that, it marks the first time in 54 years that the nearly 2-acre spread is available for sale, ready for the next generation of owners to take it to its next chapter. The Lichtensteins bought the property in 1970, although it was not immediately clear how much they paid.
Even before 1970, Southampton had been a favorite place to visit.
“We came for a few summers and one fall just wouldn’t go away,” Roy once reportedly said.
“It’s going to make a really nice home for someone because it’s unique,” Harald Grant, of Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the brokers representing the listing, told The Post. He is bringing this to market alongside Bruce Grant and Caitlin Walsh, both also of Sotheby’s, and Corcoran’s Tim Davis in a co-exclusive. “Someone will enjoy living there.”
In particular, a potential buyer, as well as an art lover, can enjoy the fact that Roy’s white studio remains on the ground, accented with black trim and charmingly surrounded by an array of dazzling flowers.
“They kept beautiful gardens,” added Grant.
The studio, which has a two-car garage, has been vacant in the time since Roy’s death. It is one of two structures on land, which is on the ocean side of Gin Lane. Next is the main house, originally a carriage house built in 1897, which Roy and Dorothy expanded and modified several times during their ownership.
Marketing images show the three-level main house has charming beamed ceilings in the great room, walls of glass overlooking the grounds, painted hardwood floors in other areas and plenty of space for al fresco entertaining. For example, the dining room – lined with sage walls – opens onto the courtyard. There is also space for outdoor dining; the images listed also show a beautiful stone table with seating for 10 people. Many of the outdoor spaces offer views of the Atlantic.
The kitchen, meanwhile, has ample storage and dining space. A library comes with built-in shelves and a fireplace. There are also six bedrooms.
That said, the current state of the property is nothing to sniff at. But unlike many other multimillion-dollar homes in the Hamptons, this one doesn’t have a pool.
“They lived very modestly,” added Grant of the Lichtensteins. However, he adds, the listing comes with proven beach access, “which is great because you’re basically 2 oceanfront lots.” (The beach is accessed via a private path, listing notes.)
The mansion’s history is one thing – but Grant adds that its potential is another.
“You can make a bigger house, you can double the size of the existing structure and you can add a really nice pool,” he said. “That’s every buyer’s concern” to make it fit their lifestyle.
“It’s an incredible property,” Grant added.
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Image Source : nypost.com