Life and career Napoleon LeBrun

1 life , career

1.1 in philadelphia
1.2 in new york city
1.3 death

life , career

cathedral-basilica of sts. peter , paul (1846-64) in philadelphia



the academy of music in philadelphia (1857)


in philadelphia

lebrun son of napoleonic ambassador united states who, after downfall of regime, remained in united states , settled in philadelphia. lebrun s architectural training began @ age of 15 when placed in offices of thomas ustick walter in philadelphia; walter later became architect of united states capitol. after 6 years walter, lebrun left set own office in 1841, receiving major commissions cathedral-basilica of sts. peter , paul (1846–64) , academy of music (1857).

as young man in twenties, lebrun found opportunity in booming industrial development of schuylkill valley of pennsylvania in 1840s. other work includes original version of trinity episcopal church, pottsville (1847), still standing though altered later revisions. design church led commission schuylkill county prison (1851) when county seat moved orwigsburg pottsville. designed first columbia county courthouse in bloomsburg , 1854 montgomery county courthouse in norristown. although both later extensively redesigned , expanded, notable marble facade of montgomery county courthouse remains outward , identifying creation.

in philadelphia, lebrun known many churches, including not st. augustine s , cathedral-basilica of sts. peter , paul, st. patrick s catholic church (1841) on 20th street , episcopal church of epiphany (1848) on 17th street, st. john chrysostom albanian orthodox church.

in new york city

the now-demolished masonic temple in manhattan (1875) helped established lebrun s reputation in new york city



the steeple of church of st. john baptist (1872) in manhattan, new york city

in 1864, lebrun relocated office , family new york city, establishing reputation there masonic temple (1870) on west 23rd street in manhattan, designed in second empire style; in 1911 temple torn down replaced current masonic building designed harry p. knowles. in 1870, lebrun s son, pierre, joined firm, became napoleon lebrun & son in 1880, , in 1892 napoleon lebrun & sons after younger son michel joined.

as in philadelphia, lebrun , firm, pierre lead architect, designed numerous churches in new york city, including roman catholic church of st. john baptist (1872) on west 31st street , episcopal church of st. mary virgin (1894–95) on west 46th street in times square neighborhood. st mary s first church in world designed concealed steel skeleton, reason known in days chicago church , after chicago school of architecture, largely responsible use of steel skeletons in skyscraper construction.

other ecclesiastical commissions included seventh presbyterian church (1842, demolished), scots (or second) presbyterian church (1843, no longer extant), church of st. peter apostle (german catholic)on 5th street (1843, no longer extant), protestant episcopal church of holy nativity (1844, demolished 2013), lombard-style church of epiphany (1869–70, burned down), , st. ann s roman catholic church on east 12th street, lebrun designed french gothic sanctuary in 1871 sat behind original 1847 facade; in 2006 facade demolished - stands freely in front of college dormitory built on site of sanctuary. office responsible current st. michael s church (34th street, manhattan) church, rectory, convent, , school (1904-1907), incorporate elements of earlier church lawrence j. o connor demolished construction of north river tunnels , pennsylvania station.

lebrun designed first building fire department of new york in 1880, , firm continued work department, designing on 40 buildings, including fire houses, fire pier , warehouse. instrumental in designing of earliest skyscrapers, including metropolitan life insurance company tower.

death

lebrun died in 1901 in new york city, , buried in laurel hill cemetery in philadelphia.