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The Basilica of Saint Mary's

Saint Mary's Basilica line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The drawing of Saint Mary's Basilica was completed in 1993. To this day it remains perhaps my strongest rendering of a building. I recall the pillars that supported the entryway posed an especially large challenge. I was concerned they would be lost in the shadows. I decided that I would render them as best I could, and if it detracted from the drawing, so be it. Just the opposite happened though, they turned out to be one of the drawings strongest elements, anchoring the front of the building to the staircase. The original of this illustration was donated to the church in about 1994-95.

Information about the Basilica of Saint Mary's:

The Basilica of Saint Mary's in Minneapolis, Minnesota has the distinction of being the very first basilica established in the United States. It is the co-cathedral Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, along with the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The church is done in the style of Beaux-Arts architecture, and is considered to be one of the finest examples of this style in the nation. Construction began on the church in 1907 and was completed in 1915. The building was designed by renowned Frano-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray (who also helped design the Cathedral of Saint Paul, but died while the building was still being planned.) in 1991, the entire copper roof was replaced due to the fact the original one was leaking water and causing damage to the interior of the church. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.