LovingDC

Lion over Massachusetts

In the city we miss so much by not looking up.  Take this beautiful sandstone lion over  Massachusetts Avenue.

This was taken in late afternoon with that beautiful pink light that Washington is known for and which we relish when we're out and about at the right time.

Hermes Sculpture

A beautiful architectural sculpture over the entrance to the Sofitel hotel on 15th street.  The winged feet make me think it's Mercury (Hermes).

Middle Eastern Sculpture

A nice bit of architectural sculpture with Middle-Eastern elements, south of Dupont Circle.  Love that the birds have built a nest.

Cuban-American Friendship Cup

Detail from the Cuban-American Friendship Urn, which was made from a marble column salvaged from the monument to the "Sinking of the Maine" in Havana, Cuba. The sculpture itself appears in good shape and is a great example of art-deco sculpture in the nation's capital. 

What's sad about this memorial is that it's largely forgotten and consigned to one of the worst places off the mall.  It's shamefully placed along a reserve parking lot underneath the 14th street bridge.  According to some sources it used to be in front of the Cuban Embassy but after the communist takeover of Cuba it made its way to this back corner.

There are two bronze plates on the bottom of the memorial.  Here's the original and the translation:

ESTA COPA FUE ESCULPIDA EN UN FRAGMENTO DE LA COLUMNA DE MARMOL DEL MONUMENTO A LAS VICTIMAS DEL "MAINE".  ERICIDO EN LA CIUDAD DE LA HABANA, CUYA COLUMNA FUE DERRIBADA POR EL CICLON DE 20 DE OCTOBRE DE 1926.

"This cup was sculpted from a fragment from the marble column, from the monument to the victims of the "Maine."  Built in the city of Havana, that column fell in the Hurricane of October 20, 1926."

EL RECUERDO DEL "MAINE" TENDRA ETERNA DURACION DURANTE LOS SIGLOS LOS LAZOS DE LA AMISTAD ENTRE LA TIERRA DE CUBA Y LA TIERRA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE NORTE AMERICA  - GERARDO MACHADO

"The memory of the "Maine" will last forever through the ages of the bonds of friendship between the land of Cuba and land of the United States. - (Cuban President) Gerardo Machado"

Religious Art Deco in Brookland

Architectural detail on the old Holy Names College (now Howard Divinity School) building in Brookland.  This is without doubt the most impressive religious art-deco building in the region and one of the best art deco buildings in the city.  Sadly little known since its in NE.  Should be on every art deco buff's must-see list.

Bloomingdale Keystone

A beautiful terracotta keystone over the entrance to a brownstone in Bloomingdale.  A nice composition of leaves and blossoms.

Hand of Heaven

Sculpture on limestone obelisk at Congressional Cemetery in Southeast Washington, DC.

Eckington Terracotta

Beautiful terracotta sculpture on the old Eckington School building in Northeast Washington.

Saint Sebastian at the National Gallery

Picasso's St. Sebastian at the National Gallery of Art.  A masterpiece of beauty in our city.

Bird in Tree - Dupont Circle

Beautiful carved keystone in Dupont Circle.  A lovely bird in the trees design.