Richard Morris Hunt Memorial: A Granite Gaze in Central Park

A Marble Monument: Richard Morris Hunt Memorial in Manhattan's Central Park

The Richard Morris Hunt Memorial erected near Central Park in 1898 is a testament to the extraordinary architectural genius who shone in the Victorian era. Designed by Daniel Chester French, the memorial boasts an exedra built with marble and granite, with a bronze bust of Hunt and flanking statues.

Architecture, Art, and Imagination

The memorial's statue of Hunt captures his seminal contribution to American architecture, characterized by the revitalization of Neoclassical style with a modern touch. Have you ever wondered who commissioned such a poetic ode to New York's cultural titan? It was none other than a coalition of the city's premier cultural institutions that included the, Century Association, the Municipal Art Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Artist Artisans of New York, the Architectural League, the National Sculpture Society, the National Academy of Design, the Society of American Artists, the American Institute of Architects, the American Watercolor Society, and the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects.

Statues of Art, Sculpture, and Architecture

The flanking statues represent Art, Sculpture, and Architecture respectively, and crafted by the same team of talented artists. The statue of Art depicts a woman embracing a paintbrush, while the statue of Architecture presents a man grasping some building plans.

A Lasting Tribute

The Richard Morris Hunt Memorial is located at 70th Street and Fifth Avenue, standing as a lasting testament to the artist and his work.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons