The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty remains a defining structural contribution by Richard Morris Hunt, an architect whose career spanned the Gilded Age. Born in 1827 in Brattleboro, Vermont, he bridged American architectural practice with rigorous European training, eventually becoming the first American admitted to the architecture program at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
European Training and Early Work
Hunt moved to Europe in 1843, eventually settling in Paris to study under Hector Lefuel. In 1853, he assisted in designing the Pavillon de la Bibliothèque during the expansion of the Louvre. Upon returning to the United States in 1856, he initially worked with Thomas Ustick Walter on the United States Capitol renovation before establishing an independent practice in New York.
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In 1858, Hunt founded an architectural school within his Tenth Street Studio Building, mentoring prominent figures such as George B. Post and Henry Van Brunt. His practice helped standardize professional fees after a successful legal suit regarding services rendered. Despite the rejection of his proposal for the Central Park Scholars' Gate, he remained a central figure in American design, later serving as an employer at Columbia University.
Projects of the Gilded Age
Hunt defined the residential landscape for the social elite, most notably with the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. His portfolio included elaborate summer cottages in Newport, Rhode Island, and major civic projects in New York City, including the entrance façade and Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was a member of the Académie des beaux-arts and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Fast facts
- Born: 1827, Brattleboro, Vermont
- Died: 1895, Newport, Rhode Island
- Education: Beaux-Arts de Paris
- Notable Works: Biltmore Estate
- Awards: Royal Gold Medal (1893)
- Professional Membership: Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
- Distinction: Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Burial Site: Island Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Hunt's primary architectural training?
He was the first American educated at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Which major New York landmarks did he contribute to?
He designed the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty and the Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Achievements
- Notable work: Biltmore Estate
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
- Trained at Beaux-Arts de Paris
