Exploring Timeless Architectural Masterpieces at the Carnegie Museum’s Hall of Architecture
# The Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum of Art: A Timeless Treasure
For over a century, the **Hall of Architecture** at the **Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh** has remained one of the most unique and captivating museum spaces in the world. Housing one of the world’s largest collections of plaster casts of historical sculptures and architectural elements, this breathtaking venue offers a fascinating glimpse into the art and architecture of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance times.
At its heart, the **Hall of Architecture** is a portal to a world long past—an opportunity to experience architectural masterpieces from across history without stepping outside Pittsburgh. Despite changing museum trends that led many institutions to discard or devalue their plaster cast collections, the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Hall of Architecture endures as an **irreplaceable cultural resource** and an **aesthetic marvel**.
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## **The Origins of the Hall of Architecture**
The Hall of Architecture owes its existence to **Andrew Carnegie**, the Pittsburgh steel magnate and philanthropist, who sought to create an institution where working-class Pittsburghers could experience world-class culture. Carnegie commissioned the **Pittsburgh firm Longfellow, Alden & Harlow** to design the space in 1907.
Inspired by one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the **Mausoleum at Halicarnassus**—the Hall of Architecture was envisioned as a tribute to the **great artistic and architectural achievements of history**. Measuring **140 feet in height with a 440-foot perimeter**, its dimensions reflect those of the original ancient wonder. The museum’s curators spared no expense in acquiring some of the **most magnificent plaster casts ever created**, sourcing works from renowned European molders and casting workshops.
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## **A Unique Collection of Architectural Masterpieces**
The Hall of Architecture is a treasure trove of historical reproduction. Unlike most museums, which focus on original works, the Hall of Architecture is filled with **carefully crafted plaster casts** of sculptures, friezes, and façades from antiquity to the Renaissance. Highlights of this remarkable collection include:
### **1. The Abbey Church of Saint-Gilles**
The **87-foot façade of the 12th-century Abbey Church of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard** in France is perhaps the hall’s most impressive exhibit. The cast was painstakingly created in **over 200 separate sections**, transported across the Atlantic in four steamers, and reassembled in Pittsburgh. Today, it remains **the largest known architectural cast ever produced**.
### **2. The Victory of Samothrace**
A life-sized plaster cast of the **Nike of Samothrace (Winged Victory)**, one of the most famous sculptures in the Louvre Museum, stands proudly in the Hall of Architecture. This Greek masterpiece, originally sculpted in the **2nd century BCE**, symbolizes triumph and motion, with its dramatic wings and windswept drapery.
### **3. The Gates of Paradise**
Lorenzo Ghiberti’s **Florentine Baptistery doors**, famously known as the **Gates of Paradise**, are proudly adorning the hall. Originally created in **the 15th century**, these intricate gilded doors depict biblical scenes in stunning detail, showcasing the pinnacle of **Renaissance artistry**.
### **4. The Erechtheion Caryatids**
Replicas of the stunning **Caryatids** from the Erechtheion in Athens offer a glimpse into **classical Greek architecture**. These **elegant female figures**, which acted as structural supports for the ancient temple, stand as a testament to the beauty and innovation of **Athenian craftsmanship**.
These **casts allow visitors to admire and study architectural and sculptural masterpieces** as they would have appeared in their original locations, with a level of detail that digital reproductions or photographs cannot fully convey.
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## **A Changing Perspective on Plaster Casts**
In the early **20th century**, **plaster casts were common in museums worldwide**, celebrated for making art accessible. However, by the **mid-20th century**, attitudes shifted. Many institutions—including the **Metropolitan Museum of Art** and the **Art Institute of Chicago**—began removing their plaster casts, considering them **outdated and inferior to original artifacts**. Some museums even **destroyed or sold off** their collections.
At the Carnegie Museum of Art, however, the Hall of Architecture **remained intact**. Thanks to a combination of curatorial **foresight and institutional conservatism**, the collection has survived the **anti-cast movement** that reshaped art museums in the latter half of the 20th century.
Today, the Hall of Architecture stands as a **rare survivor** of this era, offering an invaluable **historical perspective on architectural interpretation**.
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## **Reevaluating the Role of Reproductions in Museums**
In **the modern museum landscape**, concerns about **colon