Grand Central Ceiling
However the depiction of the sky is actually a mirror image of the.
Grand central ceiling. Architect whitney warren of warren wetmore the terminal s architects french artist. By 1924 just 11 years after the mural was painted a leaky roof had created embarrassing discolorations. What we have now in grand central including the divine ceiling is a jewel of a station.
Okay it is what it seems it also however holds some secrets. As well vanderbilt hall is regularly used for temporary art. Two decades later most of its one time brilliant gold star beams had flaked off leaving the ceiling in faded dimness.
Grand central features permanent works of art including the celestial ceiling in the main concourse the glory of commerce work and the statue of cornelius vanderbilt in front of the building s south facade and the two cast iron eagle statues adorning the terminal s facades. Tucked at the edge of. And in new york city s grand central terminal astronomy is well represented.
Among the permanent works of public art in grand central are the celestial ceiling in the main concourse the glory of commerce work the statue of cornelius vanderbilt in front of the building s south facade and the two cast iron eagle statues adorning the terminal s facades. The grand central terminal ceiling took dozens of people to create but was primarily the work of five men. Gone are the cracks and water damage the grime and the soot and gone are the cigarettes.
The band of sky that is depicted is in fact our current winter sky with the constellation figures copied from johann bayer s renowned 1603 star atlas. The first is a tiny rectangular patch located near the outstretched claw of cancer that has never been purposefully cleaned. Grand central s ceiling also contains two features that tell us a lot about the history of the station.
Unfortunately the hiccups related to grand central terminal s ceiling would keep coming. The mural above the concourse at grand central terminal is one of the most gawked at ceilings in new york city but even daily commuters may have missed a peculiar feature. A few fun facts if you will.