Henry Hobson Richardson Photos

Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-86) is best known for inspiring the Romanesque Revival style in America. Born in Louisiana, Richardson graduated in architecture from Harvard (1859), studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1860-65) & then opened a practice in New York in 1866. After a series of commissions, he gained his fame with Trinity Church in Boston (1872-77). He built buildings at Harvard University (Sever & Austin Halls), several libraries (e.g. Crane Library in Quincy), a series of railroad stations & commercial buildings. He then collaborated on the New York State Capitol in Albany. He died suddenly at 47 & his designs were completed by his firm under the name Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge.

See also: Architects & Architecture
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Trinity Church (1873-7) one of the defining buildings of Victorian Romanesque.
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque. Architect: Henry Hobson Richardson. On National Register. Trinity Church, Boston

Roofline of Trinity Church.

Gargoyles on Trinity Church.

Roof tiles of Trinity Church.

Gargoyle & patterned stonework of Trinity Church.

St Mathew & St Mark on Trinity Church.

Crane Library (1881).
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque. Architect: Henry Hobson Richardson. On National Register. Crane Library, Quincy, MA

Portal of Crane Library.

Carvings above portal of Crane Library.

Crane carved on Crane Library.

Carving of beast biting own tail on Crane Library.

Gargoyle on Crane Library.

Roof tiles of Crane Library.

Romanesque windows of Crane Library.

Window columns of Crane Library.

Conical roof of Crane Library.

Fireplace carved with crests in Crane Library H.H. Richardson.

Details of carved fireplace in Crane Library.

Detail of carved fireplace in Crane Library.

Wooded shelves in Crane Library.

Albany City Hall (1881-2).
Style: Victorian Romanesque. Architect: Henry Hobson Richardson. On National Register. Albany, NY

Towers & arches of Albany City Hall.

Portico of Albany City Hall.

Court of Appeals of State of New York (1842) (20 Eagle St.). Style: Greek-Revival. Architect: Henry Hobson Richardson. On National Register.

New York State Capitol (1867-99) is a mixture of styles reflecting three major architects who worked on the building. Style: Italian Renaissance & Romanesque. Architect: Thomas Fuller + Leopold Eidlitz + Henry Hobson Richardson. New York State Capitol, Albany

Courtyard levels showing change of styles over time in New York State Capitol.

Great Western or Million Dollar Staircase (1883-97) in New York State Capitol.

Newell post on Great Western staircase in New York State Capitol.

Prominent New Yorkers carved on Great Western staircase in New York State Capitol.

All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.