Description
Five blueprint sketches that border the left and right sides of the central print examine distinct architectural features of the Cary Building. Lower left and lower right show the building in its entirety drawn from two different angles on Chambers Street. Top left and right show closer angles of individual windows, demonstrating the Italian Renaissance revival style within the building’s architecture. The remaining sketch shows the building’s main entrance: steps leading up to a revolving door contained by a central archway supported by two Doric columns and framed by slender piers.
The Cary Building, originally a dry goods warehouse named after its occupants, Cary, Howard & Sanger, was erected in 1856-57. It was designed by King & Kellum in partnership with architect Daniel Badger, who was referred to by The New York Times in 1884 as “the pioneer of this country in the use of iron for building purposes.” This building stands in harmony with many other cast iron buildings in the Tribeca neighborhood. The rapid industrialization of New York City in the 1860-70s required the quick manufacture of new warehouses for developing businesses. Thus, while the Cary Building has the same architectural flavor as an Italian palazzo, brick and stone were reconceived into iron. Haas demonstrates this by showing the building’s uniform yet intricately detailed iterations of windows, columns, and floors. Though it has long since become a residential building, the Cary Building stands as a designated landmark memorializing New York City’s embrace of newness in industry and design during the Industrial Revolution and onwards.
Hass made this print as part of an impressive ongoing series of city architectural studies that he has produced since the 1970s. A catalogue raisonné by Marilyn S. Kushner, published in 2005, includes 153 prints he created between 1970 and 2004. They are at once works of art and meticulous studies of architectural elements, history, and design. In this print, Haas contrasts the black, brown, and white of the primary facade of the Cary Building against the cobalt blue of the blueprint sketches. In this way, Haas renders an outstanding representation of the Cary Building entryway architecture in a bold and aesthetically pleasing style.
Richard Haas is an American muralist best known for his architectural prints and murals. According to architectural critic Paul Goldberger, “Richard Haas is an artist about architecture — he makes people stop and think about architecture and realize that buildings are not just a backdrop; they are also an active presence in our lives.” Haas’s interest in art and architecture is rooted in his adolescent job working as a stonemason’s assistant. He went on to receive his B.S. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an M.F.A. from University of Minnesota. The artist moved to New York City in 1968 where he established a style of producing accurate prints and murals incorporating the architectural details of historic buildings. His subjects show a wide range of architectural styles including Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, and Art Deco. Hass produced a series of limited edition prints mostly between 1970s through the 1990s that exemplify his fascination with the architectural structure and history of New York City. Today, Haas lives in New York City with his family and continues to depict urban architectural design with his own stylistic flair.
Condition: Generally very good, the colors bright and fresh, with only light toning overall. Paper slightly naturally wavy as floated. Not examined out of frame.
References:
“Cary Building (New York City).” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary_Building_(New_York_City) (13 May 2024).
“How SoHo NYC Became The Cast Iron District | Walking Tour | Architectural Digest.” Youtube, uploaded by Architectural Digest, 16 March 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_k-E4D5PE&t=26s (13 May 2024).
“Richard Haas (About).” Richard Haas. http://www.richardhaas.com/about (26 April 2024).
“Richard Haas (American, born 1936).” Artnet. https://www.artnet.com/artists/richard-haas/ (26 April 2024).
“The 1857 Cary Building – 105 Chambers Street” Daytonian in Manhattan. 2 October 2010. https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2010/10/1857-cary-building-105-chambers-street.html#google_vignette (13 May 2024).
![Temple de Vesta à Rome [Temple of Vesta at Rome], Plate 42](https://www.georgeglazer.com/wpmain/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/despouy-vesta-pl42-300x300.jpg)
