Heurich Mausoleum
Encyclopedia
Heurich Mausoleum is a public artwork by sculptor Louis Amateis, located at Rock Creek Cemetery
in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. "Heurich Mausoleum" was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
survey in May 1993. This sculpture is the final resting place of members of the Heurich family.
s are attached to each corner of a granite mausoleum
(15 x 22 x 16 ft.). They each have wings and stand with their hands clasped in front of their waist with their eyes closed. The placement has their heads touching the roof of the mausoleum and their bare feet rest on a low ledge. Two of the figures have braided hair, one has hair that hangs down over her shoulders and the final figure has a cape pulled around her head. The back of the mausoleum has a stained glass
window showing an angel
holding a scroll that is inscribed with the word Peace.
The caryatids are signed:
Over the mausoleum door it is inscribed: HEURICH
The interior wall of the mausoleum is inscribed in German:
, Italy on December 13, 1855. Studying architecture at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and sculpture at the Royal Academy of Fine Art. With national and regional Italian he also studied in Milan
and Paris
before moving to New York City in 1883. Working as an architectural sculptor at McKim, Mead, and White
he married his wife, Dora Ballin, in 1889. After getting married, the couple and their four sons moved to Washington, D.C. where he founded the School of Architecture and Fine Arts
at what became George Washington University
. He served as chairman from 1892-1902. He died March 18, 1913 of apoplexy
. His son, Edward, went on to be a prominent sculptor as well.
Amateis has designed work for the United States Capitol
and busts of Chester A. Arthur
, General Winfield Scott Hancock, General John Logan
, Andrew Carnegie
among others.
This mausoleum serves as the final resting place to members of the Heurich family. Christian Heurich (1842–1945) immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1866. In 1872 he founded Christian Heurich Brewery which was located in Washington between the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
and the Kennedy Center. The brewery closed in 1956 and was torn down in the 1960s. The Heurich's lived in Dupont Circle
in what is known as the Brewmaster's Castle
.
The stained glass located on the back wall was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany
.
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. "Heurich Mausoleum" was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
survey in May 1993. This sculpture is the final resting place of members of the Heurich family.
Description
Four caryatidCaryatid
A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term karyatides literally means "maidens of Karyai", an ancient town of Peloponnese...
s are attached to each corner of a granite mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
(15 x 22 x 16 ft.). They each have wings and stand with their hands clasped in front of their waist with their eyes closed. The placement has their heads touching the roof of the mausoleum and their bare feet rest on a low ledge. Two of the figures have braided hair, one has hair that hangs down over her shoulders and the final figure has a cape pulled around her head. The back of the mausoleum has a stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
window showing an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
holding a scroll that is inscribed with the word Peace.
The caryatids are signed:
- L. AMATEIS
- Gorham MFG CO Founders
Over the mausoleum door it is inscribed: HEURICH
The interior wall of the mausoleum is inscribed in German:
- In Tiefem
- Schmerz Kein
- Weltweishein
- Furs Herz
Artist
Louis Amateis was born in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy on December 13, 1855. Studying architecture at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and sculpture at the Royal Academy of Fine Art. With national and regional Italian he also studied in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before moving to New York City in 1883. Working as an architectural sculptor at McKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead & White was a prominent American architectural firm at the turn of the twentieth century and in the history of American architecture. The firm's founding partners were Charles Follen McKim , William Rutherford Mead and Stanford White...
he married his wife, Dora Ballin, in 1889. After getting married, the couple and their four sons moved to Washington, D.C. where he founded the School of Architecture and Fine Arts
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, or CCAS, is The George Washington University's liberal arts and sciences college. The Columbian College bears the original name of The George Washington University when it was chartered by Congress in 1821...
at what became George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. He served as chairman from 1892-1902. He died March 18, 1913 of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
. His son, Edward, went on to be a prominent sculptor as well.
Amateis has designed work for the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
and busts of Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
, General Winfield Scott Hancock, General John Logan
Major General John A. Logan
Major General John A. Logan is a public artwork by American artist Franklin Simmons, located at Logan Circle in Washington, D.C., United States. Major General John A. Logan was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey in 1993. The monument is an equestrian...
, Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
among others.
Acquisition
The Heurich family mausoleum was originally located at their family dairy farm in Prince George's County, Maryland. The mausoleum was moved to Rock Creek Cemetery in 1951 after Mrs. Heurich (Christian Heurich's third wife) sold the farm.Information
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge is located in Washington, D.C. It carries Interstate 66 and U.S. Highway 50 over the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center, connecting the Rosslyn area of Arlington, Virginia, with Washington...
and the Kennedy Center. The brewery closed in 1956 and was torn down in the 1960s. The Heurich's lived in Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighborhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. The traffic circle is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW...
in what is known as the Brewmaster's Castle
Christian Heurich Mansion
Heurich House, also known as the Brewmaster's Castle, is a Gilded Age mansion in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C.-History:...
.
The stained glass located on the back wall was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
.