Carved in Stone

Stone Sculpture

From church altars to university towers and civic façades — Maene's stone carving defined the architectural character of Gilded Age Philadelphia.

Maene had trained in stone carving in Belgium before studying in Paris, and the stone work he brought to Philadelphia was informed by the great Gothic and Renaissance traditions of European ecclesiastical carving. His range was exceptional: from the intimate scale of a font or grave marker to the monumental scale of a university tower or courthouse colonnade.

Many of his stone commissions were executed for architects of the first rank — Wilson Eyre, Horace Trumbauer, and others — who trusted Maene to translate their drawings into permanent stone with complete fidelity to the design intent.

Ecclesiastical Stone

St. Clement's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia

Stone altar, high altar, Lady Chapel stonework (1908–1917). The Lady Chapel was blessed February 15, 1915.

Christ Church, Philadelphia

Stone architectural elements at this Colonial-era landmark.

The Cathedral Church of St. John, Wilmington, DE

Credited by architectural historian Barksdale Maynard.

Trinity Episcopal Church, Wilmington, DE

Stone altar, wainscoting, and Bishop's chair in stone.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Perth Amboy, NJ

Altar and roof beam; church records document the commission.

St. John the Divine, New York, NY

Stone carving at this great cathedral.

Civic & Institutional Stone

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Four towers and the Spanish-American War memorial in exterior stone.

Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia

Exterior stonework at 34th and Sansom.

Temple University, Philadelphia

Exterior stonework at Broad and Montgomery.

Grey Towers Castle, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA

Stonework for architect Horace Trumbauer's 1898 National Historic Landmark.

Princeton University, NJ

Exterior stonework and columns.

Cincinnati Public Library, Cincinnati, OH

Architectural stone commission.

Camden County Courthouse, Camden, NJ

Exterior marble columns (building now demolished).

Commercial & Residential Façades

J. Wesley Pullman Office Building, Philadelphia (1886)

In collaboration with architect Wilson Eyre — "rich, decorative details of this facade."

1610 Locust St., Philadelphia

Exterior stonework.

Old Evening Bulletin Building, Philadelphia

Exterior stonework.

Provident Building (now Rite Aid), Chestnut & 17th, Philadelphia

"The Sower" — carved plaques flanking the entrance doors.

Funerary & Memorial Stone

Pennepack Baptist Church Cemetery, Philadelphia

A stone angel — grave marker for Susanne Maene, Edward's wife.

Spanish-American War Memorial, University of Pennsylvania

Monumental memorial in stone.