Statuary and Stone Sculpture

Minnesota State Capitol, Stone Shed, Stone Carving, Eagle Statue, n.d
Minnesota State Capitol stone shed, carving marble eagle statue using pneumatic tool, n.d
Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society. Used with permission.

This section of the website contains photographs that show the building sculpture being carved and later set in place by men and hoists. We also have a newspaper clipping from the St. Paul Globe newspaper that discusses the architectural sculptures on the building. Click here to view the article.

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Occupation: 
Minnesota Capitol Building, Marble Eagle hoisted into place, October 12, 1901
Marble Eagle hoisted into place, October 12, 1901, Minnesota Capitol Building,
Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society. Used with permission.
Minnesota State Capitol, Plaster Model, n.d.
Minnesota State Capitol, plaster model for bas-relief stonework, n.d.
Image courtesy of Thomas Blanck and Associates. Used with permission.
Minnesota Capitol Building, Marble Angel over keystone, Main Entrance, September 1, 1901
Marble angel of victory over keystone, Minnesota Capitol main entrance, September 1, 1901. (This statue was eroded over time and a new copy was carved in Pietrasanta, Italy during the 2010-2017 reconstruction of the building.)
Image courtesy of Thomas Blanck and Associates. Used with permission.
Minnesota State Capitol, Heavy pillars over west entrance, December 1, 1899
Minnesota State Capitol, Heavy Pillars over West Entrance, December 1, 1899
Image courtesy of Thomas Blanck and Associates. Used with permission.
Setting the Six Virtues Statues, Minnesota Capitol Construction
Setting one of the six "Virtues" statues. The man with the pipe is probably Nils Nelson, foreman for setting statues, columns and other stone at the Minnesota Stater Capitol.
Image courtesy of New York Historical Society. Used with permission.
Nils Nelson (probably) supervising setting one of Six Virtues statues
Nils Nelson (probably) supervising setting one of the six Virtues statues above entrance to State Capitol.
Image courtesy of New York Historical Society. Used with permission.