Garden Court Stone Conservation

Originally designed as an open-air carriageway, the Garden Court was enclosed during the building’s 1930s conversion into a museum under architect John Russell Pope’s direction. The enclosure featured a distinctive glass and iron barrel skylight that preserved natural illumination while creating a controlled interior environment. Marble floors provide the foundation, while limestone walls and Ionic colonnades frame the space. Arched panels line the exterior walls, some functioning as doorways to adjacent galleries. The marble surfaces display rich neoclassical ornamentation including Greek Key patterns, egg and dart molding, delicate rosettes, and acanthus leaf motifs, complemented by symbolic imagery representing the institution’s artistic mission: paint palettes and paper for visual arts, sculpture tools for three-dimensional arts, musical instruments for performing arts, and flaming torches symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge.

The stone conservation treatments were executed in multiple phases for optimal results. Initially, EverGreene performed thorough dry cleaning to eliminate soiling, salts, and mineral deposits from the stone surfaces. This process involved carefully brushing away contaminants followed by precision vacuuming to ensure complete removal of all accumulations. Following this preliminary treatment, the team addressed water staining and discoloration through controlled steam cleaning techniques. For particularly resistant stains, specialized poultice applications were employed. Throughout the construction period, EverGreene conducted regular stone inspections to monitor staining conditions and address any emerging issues promptly.