Design for a front to the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, Philada., [Pa.] [graphic] / Tho. U. Walter, archt., Philada.

Format:

Image

Author/Creator:

Walter, Thomas Ustick, 1804-1887.

Contributor:

Le Brun, Napoleon, 1821-1901.

Mahony, John T.

Maller, Mariano.

Notman, John, 1810-1865.

Tornatore, John B.

Visual Materials Collection (Athenaeum of Philadelphia)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cathedrals--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Churches--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Schuykill 5th St. (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Logan Square (Philadelphia, Pa.).

18th & Race Sts. at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.).

Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul (Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.)--Alterations & additions--1850.

Local Subjects:

Schuykill 5th St. (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Logan Square (Philadelphia, Pa.).

18th & Race Sts. at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.).

Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul (Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.)--Alterations & additions--1850.

Physical Description:

1 drawing : ink & wash on paper ; 90 x 66 cm.

Contained In:

Walter, Thomas Ustick. Architectural drawings collection.

Place of Publication:

Apr. 5, 1850.

Notes:

Two images: [1. front elevation] [2. entrance floor plan]

Walter's diary entry of Mar. 28, 1850 reads "commenced design for Cathedral", Apr. 5, 1850 "Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul, to design for front, $25.00.", and Apr. 29, 1850 "Cath. of St. Peter & St. Paul, cr. by cash $25.00".

Webster (1976) Philadelphia preserved, p.124 lists this structure as Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, N.E. corner Eighteenth and Race Sts., at the intersection of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on the E. side of Logan Square. Webster cites Rev. Mariano Maller, C.M. and Rev. John B. Tornatore, C.M. as responsible for the original design, with exterior plans by John Notman, in association with John T. Mahoney. Other architects & designers are credited with the interior & later renovations, including Napoleon Le Brun. The exterior is of brownstone ashlar, a popular stone with Notman, but also suggested in the Walter rendering given here. See the Athenaeum's Le Brun 1846 plan , cataloged separately. Greiff (1979) John Notman, architect, p.177 cites M.A. Frenaye (Clergy president of the building committee, Dugan, 1979)"the plan was the design of Fathers Maller and Tornatori, Professors in the Seminary, who in early life, had studied architecture. Their plan was given to Napoleon Le Brun, who arranged it in architectural proportion and superintended the construction according to this plan."

V. Dugan (1979) A History of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, p.6 states that during the summer of 1846 the land was purchased, a committee chosen from the clergy, and a method of collecting funds initiated for the construction. Architect Napoleon LeBrun was hired, and the cornerstone laid Sept. 6, 1846. LeBrun resigned sometime within the following two years, per Dugan, though other sources differ on the chrnology, and Le Brun was known to have been rehired later. According to Dugan, John Notman, previously hired to work on the facade, and John Mahoney, working as an assistant architect, took over in the absence of LeBrun, aroud 1848, with Notman continuing after Mahoney also leaves the project. Work stopped, apparently in the Summer of 1849 due to lack of funds, not to be resumed until 1854, with the walls completed by 1859.

Grieff (1979) John Notman, architect, dates Notman's work on the Cathedral c. 1851-1857, which suggests that Walter's drawing and he as architect for the Cathedral, might have been considered around the same time that Notman's work was put forward. Grieff quotes an 1847 Public Ledger description suggesting the general ideas for the facade were already known, and quotes Smith (1852) Philadelphia as it is, in 1852, which describes Notman's facade, giving the old address form "Schuykill Fifth St." According to Grieff, Notman was dismissed for inflating costs by having the stone cut at the site rather than the quarry.

Tatman & Moss (1985) Biographical dictionary of Philadelphia architecits, p. 469 states that Le Brun, a French catholic, worked in Walter's office from around 1836 to 1841. The chronology of the building construction given here differs from those above, but with agreement that the facade is according to Notman's design, not Walter or Le Brun.

Forms part of: Walter, Thomas Ustick. Architectural drawings collection.

Cited in:

Laverty, v.1, p. 232, WTU*052/001