Farmers' and Merchants' Union Bank (Columbus, WI) : Close view of decorative element (carved eagle) at centre of parapet

Creator:

Sullivan, Louis H., 1856-1924

Published/Created:

Columbus, Wisconsin, United States
completed 1919

Date Depicted:

5/15/1990
1900 AD - 1949 AD

Materials:

brick
marble

Notes:

The last phase in Sullivan's career was largely devoted to designing banks in small towns in the Midwest. Midwestern agriculture thrived in the early 20th century, leading to a revolution in rural banking and the proliferation of small institutions sympathetic to local needs. These buildings posed no problems in the expression of structure, as they were all low, load-bearing brick constructions; they did, however, raise important questions of institutional expression. Sullivan's solution was to make them monumental, as befitted banks, but 'modern' and unrelated to historical precedent in order to communicate their transformed character. They are the final and most richly impressive demonstrations of his ornamental skill, with their rich use of polychromy in brick and terracotta. Furthermore, the design of each was sensitively adapted to its setting, usually at the end of the main street facing the town square (as at Owatonna, Grinnell, Newark, Sidney and Columbus). At Columbus an arcade down the side of the bank frames the town's Civil War monument. Although these buildings were in remote areas, the care bestowed on them by Sullivan suggests that here he had finally found appreciative recipients for his exquisite talents.

Topics:

Architecture -- United States -- 20th century -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

Modern
Modernist
Twentieth century

Culture:

American

Accession Number:

1A1-SL-FM-B6

Genre:

architecture (AAT)
banks (financial institutions) (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Sculptures, Models, & Architecture

Rights:

Copyright Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Digital:

architectural exteriors; business, commerce and trade construction buildings; commercial buildings; financial institutions; banks (buildings)

Source Creator:

Gilchrist, Scott

Source Title:

Archivision Module Two

Source Created:

2878 Chamonix, Montreal QC
Archivision, Inc.
5/15/1990

Source Note:

Purchase, Visual Resources Collection, May, 2011; photographer Scott Gilchrist

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Local Record Number:

4152

OID:

10166457

PID:

digcoll:1851937