Renwick, James, 1818-1895

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Discussions between Cathedral trustees and Renwick about the new Cathedral began in 1853. The final designs for the Cathedral's first scheme were accepted and work began in 1858. Renwick is known to have initially worked in partnership with William Rodrigue, but scholars generally agree that the designs were Renwick's and Rodrigue withdrew from the project in its early stages. See: St. Patrick's Cathedral / by Leland A. Cook. New York : Quick Fox, 1979.

From the description of [Early design for St. Patrick's Cathedral] [graphic] : [four exterior elevations] / [James Renwick?]. [between 1853 and 1858] (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 82489240

The sculptures were made in Holland by Peter J.H. Cuypers and arrived in the U.S. in 1893. See: St. Patrick's Cathedral / by Leland A. Cook. New York : Quick Fox, 1979--p.110.

From the description of Designs for stations for St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York [graphic] : [elevation of three panel sculptures set between columns] / B.G. Goodhue, Delt. ; James Renwick, Architect. [18]88. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 78803190

The chapel was designed by Renwick and consecrated in 1894.

From the description of Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, St. Patrick's Cathedral [graphic] : [front elevation, transverse section, and plan of altar] / [James Renwick, Architect ; B.G. Goodhue, delineator(?)]. [circa 1894] (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 78567456

The altar that was built bears some resemblance to this scheme, particularly the high, central, arched frame supported by solomonic columns. Today this chapel is known as the Chapel and Altar of the Holy Relics.

From the description of Altar in Chapel of St. Veronica, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York [graphic] : [elevation] / B.G. Goodhue, Delt. ; James Renwick, Architect. [18]89. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 81010001

The Chapel of St. Augustine was built, but was later replaced by the shrine to St. John Neumann.

From the description of Altar in Chapel of St. Augustine, Cathedral of St. Patrick, N.Y. [graphic] : [with] plan [and] section of chapel ... / [drawn by B.G. Goodhue?] ; James Renwick, Archt. [circa 1890] (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 82118757

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Renwick family papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Selma Rattner research papers on James Renwick, 1856-2001, (bulk 1960s-2001) Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
referencedIn James Renwick : vertical file. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. Saint Patrick's Cathedral [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
referencedIn New York Public Library. Miscellaneous Papers.
referencedIn W. W. Corcoran Papers, 1791-1896, (bulk 1849-1888) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Jervis, John B. (John Bloomfield), 1795-1885. Papers, 1820-1884 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen. [Competition drawings for the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral] [graphic] : [preliminary sketches] / [Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1792-1863. James Renwick and James Renwick, Jr. architectural drawings and papers, circa 1813-1960. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. [Early design for St. Patrick's Cathedral] [graphic] : [four exterior elevations] / [James Renwick?]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Thompson, Martin E. Grammar school attached to Columbia College, New York. [graphic] : plans etc. of Western wing / John P. Murray [chairman of the building committee] ; Martin E. Thompson [architect]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. Designs for stations for St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York [graphic] : [elevation of three panel sculptures set between columns] / B.G. Goodhue, Delt. ; James Renwick, Architect. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Libraries. William Barton Rogers Papers.
referencedIn Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867. Alexander Dallas Bache Papers, 1821-1869 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Archives. Millard Fillmore Papers (C79 1).
referencedIn New York (N.Y.). Chamber of Commerce. Miscellaneous records, 1881-1883. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen. [Competition drawings for the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral] [graphic] : [final submission] / Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen, Architects, 367 Fifth Avenue, New York [stamp]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Weather Bureau National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Ru 60: Meteorological Project, 1849 1875.
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. Altar in Chapel of St. Augustine, Cathedral of St. Patrick, N.Y. [graphic] : [with] plan [and] section of chapel ... / [drawn by B.G. Goodhue?] ; James Renwick, Archt. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. Altar of the Holy Family, Cathedral of St. Patrick [graphic] : [elevation, section, and half-plan] / James Renwick, Architect ; W.T. Owen, Del.[ineator]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Renwick, James, 1818-1895 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Donald McClelland papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. Altar in Chapel of St. Veronica, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York [graphic] : [elevation] / B.G. Goodhue, Delt. ; James Renwick, Architect. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, St. Patrick's Cathedral [graphic] : [front elevation, transverse section, and plan of altar] / [James Renwick, Architect ; B.G. Goodhue, delineator(?)]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Nathalie Bailey Morris photographs of American Gothic Revival architecture, 1853-1937, (bulk 1933-1934) Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
creatorOf Woodlawn Cemetery (New York, N.Y.). Woodlawn Cemetery records, 1863-1999. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Rattner, Selma, 1929-2005. Selma Rattner Research Papers on James Renwick, 1856-2001, (bulk 1960s-2001). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. St. Patrick Cathedral, New York, N.Y. [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
referencedIn Simons, Joyce. Gothic revival style in nineteenth century churches : typescript / by Joyce Simons. Center for Brooklyn History (2020-)
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Alexander Dallas Bache Papers.
referencedIn Nevins & Thomas, Diary Of G.T. Strong. [Contact repository for more information].
referencedIn Renwick family. Renwick Family papers, 1794-1916. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Renwick, James, 1818-1895. [Smithsonian Institution Building] [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
referencedIn New York Public Library. A. B. Durand Papers.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Cameron, Gilbert person
correspondedWith Corcoran, W. W. (William Wilson), 1798-1888. person
associatedWith Cuypers, P. J. H. (Petrus Josephus Hubertus), 1827-1921. person
correspondedWith Foreman, Edward (Dr.) person
associatedWith Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor, 1869-1924. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Jervis, John B. (John Bloomfield), 1795-1885. person
correspondedWith Lanman, Charles person
associatedWith McClelland, Donald. person
associatedWith Morris, Alletta Nathalie Lorillard Bailey, 1887-1935. person
associatedWith New York (N.Y.). Chamber of Commerce. corporateBody
associatedWith Owen, Walter Tallent, d. 1902. person
associatedWith Rattner, Selma, 1929-2005. person
associatedWith Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen. corporateBody
associatedWith Renwick family. family
associatedWith Renwick family. family
associatedWith Renwick, James, 1792-1863. person
correspondedWith Renwick, James, Sr. person
correspondedWith Rhees, William J. person
correspondedWith Rogers, James B. person
associatedWith Simons, Joyce. person
correspondedWith Stevenson, Andrew person
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.). Chapel of St. Augustine. corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.). Chapel of St. John the Evangelist. corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.). Chapel of St. Veronica. Altar. corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.). Chapel of the Holy Relics. Altar. corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.). North Transept. Altar of the Holy Family. corporateBody
associatedWith St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, N.Y.). Transepts. Sculpture. Stations of the cross. corporateBody
correspondedWith Strong, George Templeton person
associatedWith Thompson, Martin E. person
correspondedWith Torrey, John person
associatedWith Woodlawn Cemetery (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
50th Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.)
United States
New York (N.Y.)
50th Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
50th Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
Madison Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
United States
United States
Madison Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
50th Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
New York (N.Y.)
51st Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
Madison Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
United States
New York (N.Y.)
Madison Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
Madison Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
50th Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
51st Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
New York (N.Y.)
Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
50th Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
New York (N.Y.)
United States
51st Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
51st Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
Madison Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
51st Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.)
United States
51st Street (New York, N.Y.)--East
Subject
Altars
Architecture
Cathedrals
Chapels
Churches
Meteorology
Sculpture
Smithsonian Board Of Regents
Smithsonian Building
Smithsonian Endowment
Transepts
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1818-11-11

Death 1895-06-23

Americans

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