Eagles and Prey by Christophe Fratin, Central Park

Date: Cast in 1850; placed in Central Park in 1863 Sculptor: Christophe Fratin Medium & size: Bronze, lifesize. Location: Central Park, west of the Mall. If the city street grid…

Comments Off on Eagles and Prey by Christophe Fratin, Central Park

The Arsenal, Central Park

The Arsenal has a motley past. Despite its forbidding battlements, it wasn’t designed to withstand a siege - only to store gunpowder and cannonballs so that they could be hauled…

Comments Off on The Arsenal, Central Park

Speaking of Art (Business of Art, 2)

Almost 20 years ago, I wrote a couple dozen essays on the history of painting for BeyondBooks.com, a subscription service that provided online supplementary materials for high-school students. The site’s…

Comments Off on Speaking of Art (Business of Art, 2)

John Ericsson, by Jonathan Scott Hartley

This essay is adapted from Chapter 2 of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide. I’ve kept cross-references to other chapters in the book, all of which will eventually be updated and…

Comments Off on John Ericsson, by Jonathan Scott Hartley

Honoring Frederick Douglass (d. February 20, 1895)

In 2011, two life-size bronze sculptures of Frederick Douglass were dedicated in New York: one at the north end of Central Park, one at the New-York Historical Society. Douglass at…

Comments Off on Honoring Frederick Douglass (d. February 20, 1895)

George Washington, by John Quincy Adams Ward (Wall Street)

This essay is adapted from Chapter 6 of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide. I’ve kept cross-references to other chapters in the book, all of which will eventually be updated and…

Comments Off on George Washington, by John Quincy Adams Ward (Wall Street)

Romeo and Juliet by Milton Hebald, Central Park

Sculptor: Milton Hebald Date: 1977 Medium & size: Bronze, over lifesize, granite pedestal. Location: Central Park, near the entrance to the Delacorte Theater, Central Park West at about 81st Street…

Comments Off on Romeo and Juliet by Milton Hebald, Central Park

Creating a Video for Patreon

NOTE: As of July 2019, I'm switching supporters from Patreon to the Tip Jar on my website: details here. The problem with not being a talking head Patreon says you'll…

Comments Off on Creating a Video for Patreon

Maine Monument, by Attilio Piccirilli

This essay is adapted from Chapter 16 of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide. I’ve kept cross-references to other chapters in the book, all of which will eventually be updated and…

Comments Off on Maine Monument, by Attilio Piccirilli