The range of this artist’s work is dizzying, though we know him best for his paintings and for his award-winning movies, including “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and the 2018 Vincent Van Gogh biopic “At Eternity’s Gate.” It’s fair to assume that Julian Schnabel’s former West Village townhouse is in keeping with his artistic output, with flair to spare.
On the market for the first time in 30 years, the 22’ X 65’ Italianate single-family building encloses 6,600 square feet of living space and sits on a rare 23’ X 132’ south facing lot. It is listed for sale at $18.5 million.
“It is a special experience to live in a beautiful townhouse in New York,” says listing agent Michael Bolla of Sotheby’s International Realty. “But, when your home is bathed in natural light and surrounded by magical gardens, it is a sublime experience.”
With interiors designed by the artist’s second wife, Jacqueline Schnabel, the house features a traditional double parlor and two formal dining rooms; they lead to a beautiful terrace with views overlooking the rear gardens with open, unobstructed south and west exposures. Also on the ground floor is a chef’s kitchen. The house has four full bedrooms, a library, five full baths and four half baths. On the top floor, there is a glorious art studio with double height ceilings, garret windows and French Doors leading to a large north-facing terrace.
Additional amenities include four fireplaces, a grotto wine cellar, a sun room, separate staff quarters, a large professional laundry facility, exposed brick walls and floor to ceiling windows. Impeccably maintained, the house has central air conditioning, a security system and is internet ready.
Natural light floods the house and garden from every direction, and mature plantings and cascading wisteria from the rear terraces create a magical, park-like environment that is exceedingly rare in New York City. The house has handsome, traditional architecture, a stylish, individualistic interior, a superb location and a wonderful story to tell.
Its next owners will happily use them all.