Another favorite photo of mine is this one. I don’t know the date of it but likely late 1930’s, sometime prior to the shutdown of work with the arrival of World War II. These cutters are putting the finishing touches on the architectural shapes in this area of the West Front.
They are on this wooden scaffold, above the main doors, focused on the work, preparing it for the carvers. Herbert Photo’s Inc. captured this powerful and majestic image. I can hear the tap-tap of the mallet and hammer on the chisels.
The completed work, Christ in Majesty, was likely carved by Rochette & Parzini carver, Mario Tommasi around 1960. Tommasi began his trade at the age of 15 in his fathers shop in Carrara, Italy. Rochette & Parzini were a sculpting, stone carving and modeling firm located in New York.
- Favorite Photo Credit – © Indiana Limestone Company. Courtesy, Indiana Geological and Water Survey, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. ILCO ID number NY4442-5-0