AMERICAN COUNTRY DECORATING

Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America

The American Fine Arts Society building is a dignified adaptation of a Francis First, French Renaissance town house. The facade displays an air of restrained elegance in its formally balanced composition. Below the heavily decorated cornice, with balustrade at the roof line, it is divided into three major horizontal divisions, separated by plain and decorated band courses. In this four-story stone structure, the richly decorated central portion contrasts extremely well with the severally plain walls of the side portions which contain small single windows, handsomely enframed.

The arched, main entrance doorway is well decorated, being flanked by tall, ornate, candelabra-like spindles executed in stone. The surface, surrounding the three gracefully arched second floor windows, is embellished with rich decoration, and these three arches are likewise separated by large sculptured stone spindles. Above them, on the third floor, three triple windows with mullions are flanked by pilasters, decorated with a profusion of detail. A balustrade, adorned with delicate urns, and the lew pitched rod-tiled roof add a touch of stability and color to this distinguished building.

The history of the American Fine Arts Society building is very significant to the art world of New York. It was incorporated in 1889 by several societies including the Society of American Artists, the Architectural League and the Art Students League. The objective of the Society was to provide facilities for the activities of these three societies in this one building, which was opened in the fall of 1892.

Practically all major fine arts exhibitions were held in the American Fine Arts Society*s galleries until 1941, when the National Academy of Design, which had absorbed the Society of American Artists, acquired its own building and moved to Fifth Avenue. The Architectural League established new quarters in 1927. The Art Students League purchased the interests of the other two tenants in 1941 and is now sole owner of the American Fine Arts Society building.

The Art Students League, now in its ninety-second year, held its first art classes in a building on Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth Street, The school occupied space at two other locations in Manhattan before they moved to Fifty-Seventh Street in 1892. The roster of former League students, members and instructors, too numerous to list here, reads like a Who's Who in American Art. The school has had a tremendous influence on art in this country.

The membership lists are studded with names of the famous, representing every idiom of the arts, whose creative efforts have noon the recipients of many national awards and prizes. Their work may be seen in private collections, public buildings and museums all ever the United States. Some artists associated with the Art Students League have achieved international reputations.

- From the 1968 NYCLPC Landmark Designation Report

Midtown Manhattan

The American Fine Arts Society building is a dignified adaptation of a Francis First, French Renaissance town house. The facade displays an air of restrained elegance in its formally balanced composition. Below the heavily decorated cornice, with balustrade at the roof line, it is divided into three major horizontal divisions, separated by plain and decorated band courses. In this four-story stone structure, the richly decorated central portion contrasts extremely well with the severely plain walls of the side portions which contain small single windows, handsomely enframed.

The arched, main entrance doorway is well decorated, being flanked by tall, ornate, candelabra-like spindles executed in stone. The surface, surrounding the three gracefully arched second floor windows, is embellished with rich decoration, and these three arches are likewise separated by large sculptured stone spindles. Above them, on the third floor, three triple windows with mullions are flanked by pilasters, decorated with a profusion of detail. A balustrade, adorned with delicate urns, and the lew pitched red-tiled roof add a touch of stability and color to this distinguished building.

The history of the American Fine Arts Society building is very significant to the art world of New York. It was incorporated in 1889 by several societies including the Society of American Artists, the Architectural League and the Art Students League. The objective of the Society was to provide facilities for the activities of these three societies in this one building, which was opened in the fall of 1892, Practically all major fine arts exhibitions were held in the American Fine Arts Society's galleries until 1941, when the National Academy of Design, which had absorbed the Society of American Artists, acquired its own building and moved to Fifth Avenue. The Architectural League established new quarters in 1927. The Art Students League purchased the interests of the other two tenants in 1941 and is now sole owner of the American Fine Arts Society building.

The Art Students League, now in its ninety-second year, held its first art classes in a building on Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth Street. The school occupied space at two other locations in Manhattan before they moved to Fifty-Seventh Street in 1892. The roster of former League students, members and instructors, too numerous to list here, reads like a Who's Who in American Art. The school has had a tremendous influence on art in this country. The membership lists are studded with names of the famous, representing every idiom of the arts, whose creative efforts have neon the recipients of many national awards and prizes. Their work may be seen in private collections, public buildings and museums all over the United States. Some artists associated with the Art Students League have achieved international reputations.

- From the 1968 NYCLPC Landmark Designation Report