SOS! Covington Exhibit Sculpture

Crucifixion Scene, by Clement Barnhorn
Created by Cincinnati sculptor Clement Barnhorn, this sculpture of the crucifixion stands in the Mother of God Cemetery. The front of the granite base is inscribed "Ich Bin Die Auferstenhung/und das Leben++Jon-11-25" (I am the resurrection/and the life). Cast at Roman Bronze Works in New York in 1915, the sculpture was restored by Eleftherios Karkadoulias of Cincinnati in 1991.

Tobacco, and Horsebreeding, by Carl Schmitz
These limestone relief sculptures were created in 1940 as part of the Federal Art Project, a division of the Works Progress Administration. The project was created to provide work for artists by incorporating sculpture and painting into federal buildings. "Tobacco" and "Horsebreeding" were designed by Carl Schmitz of New York, and were commissioned following his winning entry in a competition sponsored by the Sections of Fine Arts of the Public Buildings Administration. Based on full size plaster models by Schmitz, the designs were carved on the north and south entrance lintels of the Post Office, by Reinhold Hirlund of Cincinnati.

Goose Girl Fountain, by Eleftherios Karkadoulias
Inspired by the Goose Girl fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, this fountain was created to commemorate the area's German settlers and the many goose farms which used to be in Covington. Cincinnati sculptor Eleftherios Karkadoulias was commissioned by the Covington Mainsstrasse Committee to create the statue of a young girl on her way to market, carrying a goose under each arm.

Statue of Angels, by Clement Barnhorn
These four bronze angels stand watch on the marble headstone marking the grave of Covington artist Frank Duveneck. Sculptor Clement Barnhorn, creator of the monument, was a longtime friend and protege of Duveneck's.

Angel with Child, by Unknown
Created by an unknown artist, this marble sculpture of an angel holding a young child stands outside the front entrance of the Cathedral Child Development Center in Covington.

Christ, by Unknown
A companion piece to Angel with Child, this marble sculpture of Christ is located at the proper right of the front entrance to the Cathedral Child Development Center, originally the Catholic Lyceum.

Unknown, by W. Hall
This abstract sculpture of Cor-Ten steel stands outside the Carnegie Art Center. Created in 1976, this sculpture is one of the few contemporary pieces in Covington.

Gargoyles
The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, begun in 1894 and completed in 1910, is the site of 58 stone gargoyles. The figures portray both real and imaginary human and animal forms with no two being alike. While much of the sculpture on the rest of the Cathedral was crafted by Covington sculptor Clement J. Barnhorn, it is unknown whether he created or assisted with the gargoyles.

The Cathedral is based on 13th century Gothic design, with the facade being patterned after Notre Dame Cathedral. Leon Coquard prepared the designs for the Cathedral and David Davis carried out the plans for the facade.

Assumption of Mary to Heaven, by Clement J. Barnhorn
The carved tympanum above the front entrance of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption was created by sculptor Clement J. Barnhorn. Barnhorn was commissioned in 1914 by Bishop Maes of the Cathedral to create the carving, which was sculpted out of Bedford limestone. The relief depicts the Assumption of Mary, the patroness saint of the Cathedral, into Heaven.

Simon Kenton, by Robert Koepnick
Artist Robert C. Koepnick of Lebanon, Ohio created the sculpture of pioneer explorer Simon Kenton. The piece was cast at Southern Ohio Bronze in Athens, Ohio in 1988.

James Bradley, by George Danhires
This figure of James Bradley, both slave and freeman, symbolizes the underground railroad which was active in the region. The bronze figure is seated on an actual park bench overlooking the Ohio River.

John Augustus Roebling, by Richard J. Miller
This figure of German immigrant John Augustus Roebling, designer of the first suspension bridge, in Covington, Kentucky, was created by artist Richard J. Miller. The sculpture commemorates the contributions immigrants made to the area.

John James Audubon, by Elliott and Ivan Schwartz
One of eight sculptures of important historic figures commissioned in 1988, this work was created by Elliott and Ivan Schwartz. Naturalist and artist John James Audubon worked and studied in the Covington area during the early 1800s.

Pediment Frieze
This sandstone relief is located on the front of the Carnegie Art Center, formerly the Covington Public Library. Built in 1904, the building was one of the many libraries throughout the country built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. An example of Beaux Arts architecture, the Carnegie Center was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

St. Peter, by Franz Mayer Studio
This sculpture of St. Peter, along with the companion piece St. Paul, was shipped by steamer to New York from the Franz Mayer Studio in Munich Germany in 1923. From there the sculptures were sent to Covington and placed on the pedestals in front of the Mother of God Church. The Church archives document the following expenses: Hauling in New York, $51.50; Rail Road Freight, $171.03; and installation, $184.15.

St. Paul, by Franz Mayer Studio
This marble sculpture of St. Paul was sculpted by an unknown artist at the Mayer Royal Art Institute in Munich Germany in 1923. St. Paul, along with a companion sculpture of St. Peter, and two mythological lions, were purchased at a cost of $2400.

Captain Mary B. Greene, by Michael Price
Sculptor Michael Price of St. Paul, Minnesota designed this bronze figure of Captain Mary B. Greene. Captain Mary was one of the few women to become a licensed boat master and river pilot, and spent many years on the Ohio River, as well as many others.

Chief Little Turtle, by Robert Koepnick
Chief Little Turtle led the Miami Indians in the battle to protect the Indian hunting grounds of Kentucky from the American settlers in the late 18th century. This sculpture was created by Robert Koepnick of Lebanon, Ohio in 1988 to remember the first settlers of the Ohio Valley, the native Americans.


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This page last updated 18 March 1997.