Eagle relief, Federal Office Building, New York, 1935. Photo from C. Paul Jennewein: Sculptor by Shirley Reiff Howarth, published by the Tampa Museum |
C. Paul Jennewein: Sculptor
Noted classical and art deco sculptor C. Paul
Jennewein lived in Larchmont, New York, from 1924 until his death
in 1978, at age 88. Among his best known works are: the main
entrance of the British Empire Building at Rockefeller Center; four
stone pylons for the 1939 World's Fair representing the Four
Elements; two pylons, painted in the Egyptian style that flank the
entrance to the Brooklyn Public Library; allegorical relief panels
in the White House Executive Mansion; marble sculptures at the
entrance to the Rayburn House of Representatives Office Building;
the sculptural decoration, including statues, pediments, and
reliefs, for the U.S. Department of Justice Building; and thirteen
sculptures of Greek deity in the central pediment of the
Philadelphia Museum of Art. His work for the Philadelphia Museum of
Art was awarded the Medal of Honor of the Architectural League.
In the Larchmont area, Jennewein designed the Neptune
silhouettes that have marked the Larchmont Village limits for
decades, and the bronze statue incorporated into the War Memorial
in front of Mamaroneck Village Hall.
Jennewein was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1890.
Apprenticed to artisans at the Stuttgart art museum at age 13, he
learned techniques of casting, modeling, and painting. When he was
16, Jennewein saw illustrations of work by the noted American
architectural firm, McKim, Mead & White. After moving to the
United States-he became a U.S. citizen in 1915-Jennewein worked for
the firm of architectural sculptors and commercial modelers, Buhler
and Lauter, which was often used by McKim, Mead & White.
By 1911, the ambitious Jennewein struck out on his
own, receiving commissions for churches and academic institutions.
He won the prestigious
Prix de Rome award for sculpture at
the American Academy in 1916, which included a three-year
fellowship in Italy to study classical art. Many of his finest
sculptors were created during this fertile period.
When Jennewein returned to New York, he received
several commissions, which included the Caruso Panel for the
Metropolitan Opera House. His work was also purchased by the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 1933, Jennewein was elected to
membership in the prestigious National Academy of Design and also
the influential Century Club Other memberships include the National
Institute of Arts and Sciences. Later in his career, Jennewein
designed numerous commemorative medals, for which he won many
design awards.
Project documentation consists of a catalog, which
provides a comprehensive survey of Jennewein's work, prepared for
The Tampa Museum, Florida, which was bequeathed Jennewein's
collection, comprising 2,000 scultpures, models, drawings, and
medals from the artist's estate in 1978, one photo, and promotional
material for lectures and artwork.
Originally submitted by: Nita M. Lowey,Representative (18th District).
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