Kentucky Home

A new book Kentucky, Historic Houses and Horse Farms of  Bluegrass Country, is part history- part photographic essay-and something equally potent-the mystical. Photographer Pieter Estersohn captures Kentucky's powers of allurement in this important book documenting the bluegrass lands between Lexington and the sleepy town of Paris.

This is horse country and there is a stretch of road where horses are gods.That road lies between Lexington and Paris. It extends for some 20 miles I guess-with stone walls, white fences and pasture just beyond.  I understand the allure having visited the area years ago. Estersohn steps beyond the road and rock into the pastures of Kentucky's beauty, industry, and passions. Michele Keith fills in what Estersohn's brilliant eye can not record with the text of Kentucky-but Estersohn's camera does most of the work. His photographs documenting the historic homes and horse farms capture something virtually unscathed in this 21st century world we inhabit with vibrancy and reverence. Of the properties he focuses on- Ashland immediately captured my attention. Having been to the house, seeing Estersohn's photographs brought that visit back most vividly.

Henry Clay, "The Great Compromiser"

 Pieter Estersohn photographer.  Courtesy of The Monacelli Press

Henry Clay is Kentucky's most noted statesman, and politician. Because of his service to Kentucky and the nation-Clay was the first politician to lie in state at the Capitol in Washington. His estate-called Ashland, noted for the ash trees on the property, was a sprawling and significant plantation and mansion in Lexington.

Lincoln's "beau ideal of a stateman"

 Henry Clay's headstone reads: "I know no North — no South — no East — no West."

 At the zenith of Clay's Ashland there were as many as 60 slaves on the property. Clay's Will  of 1852, predating the Civil War, freed all the slaves he held. Today Ashland is open to the public as a monument to Clay and to an era lost past, but very much alive within its halls.

Ashland as it appears today...

 Pieter Estersohn photographer.  Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.

 Pieter Estersohn photographer.  Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.

Ashland's Library was recreated after most of the mansion was destroyed in 1811 from the New Madrid earthquake and aftershocks. Clay's son James used as many of the original materials from the house when he began to rebuild. The library's beautiful panelling was designed with black and white walnut.

 Pieter Estersohn photographer.  Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.

"My Old Kentucky Home," where Clay travelled from the capitol to revel in his farm land, cattle and throughbreds-of course. He bred and raced them-using the buff and blue colors of his Whig party for Ashland's racing silks.

Clay's Hatbox
Pieter Estersohn photographer.  Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.

Overview of Ashland's Colonial Revival Garden

 Pieter Estersohn photographer.  Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.

later in the week Part II of Kentucky, Pieter Estersohn's new book.