It might sound a little cliched to say it, but the New York State Capitol is most definitely a showcase of the stone carver's art. Both inside and out, the building features scores of stone faces. Some are portraits of figures from the State's history, others were left to the whims of the carvers. This handsome male face, surrounded by hammers and a carpenter's square, can be found just above the south side of the Goblin Passage.
Wonderful carving - I love these details from the old buildings!
ReplyDeleteNo one before Richardson had ever before specified a granite building so richly carved. It was a technological novelty, enabled by power tools—which at that time meant coal and steam. At $25,000,000, it was the most expensive state capitol, one of he most expensive buildings in the world.
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