The Historic 1016 Madison Townhouse

1016 Madison Avenue

With so many soaring glass boxes entering the New York City skyline, we thought you would appreciate a nod to the past with the splendor of early 20th century architecture still alive on Madison Avenue.

Arader Galleries at 1016 Madison Avenue, between 78th & 79th Streets, exudes the elegance of turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts architecture. No. 1016 is one of three townhouses (No. 014 - No. 1018) that were built on speculation for the well-known builder-developer Jeremiah C. Lyons in 1902-03. The buildings, which were designed with one unified façade, are the work of the prominent architectural firm York & Sawyer. Of the central façades of three Beaux-Arts town houses, No. 1016 effectively contrasts with its neighbors, and its three-story high bay adds variety to this group, and it is the only one of the three houses to retain its original recessed central doorway.

A beautiful Audubon Osprey on display in the front showroom

Edward Palmer York (1865-1928) studied architecture at Cornell University and then joined the prestigious office of McKim, Mead & White, where he met Phillip Sawyer (1868-1949), a graduate of Columbia University and the Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts. The two formed their own partnership in 1898 and soon became well known for their large office buildings, banks, and hospitals in New York City. Among their most notable works are the New York Historical Society, the Central Savings Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, all designated New York City landmarks.

No. 1016 has an interesting lineage of ownership. The builder-developer, Jeremiah C. Lyons, owned this building until 1910, when he sold it to Thomas Cardeza (1875-1952), who had survived the Titanic shipwreck. A noted Philadelphia art collector and explorer, Cardeza never lived at No. 1016, but leased it out for several years. In 1913, Henry Ingersoll Riker, a New York socialite and member of an investment firm, purchased the house. In 1926, it was sold to Francis H. Lenygon (1887-1943), one of the world’s foremost authorities on English interiors and furniture, and Consultant for Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, who lived here until his death.

No. 1016 had a variety of noted tenants and boarders, including, in the 1960s and 70s, the artist Alexander Calder, who boarded here when he was in New York. It was Calder who designed and constructed the original stone walkway which makes up the side walk in front of the three Beaux-Arts buildings.

The splendid natural history and botanical room featuring Audubon, Gould, Redoute and more

We invite you to visit our gallery for a full tour of the building and collections. Arader Galleries houses the world’s finest selection of maps, city views, atlases and globes. And the best inventory of important natural history engravings, color plate books and watercolors. The collection includes the iconic work of John James Audubon and Pierre-Joseph Redoute. Also on display is a fine selection of travel and discovery documents from Columbus to Lewis and Clark to the Spanish American War. Museum-quality framing, restoration and appraisal services are also available. Our hours are Monday – Saturday 10-6; and Sunday 11-5. You may reach us with any questions at 212-628-7625.

For the Love of the Hunt

A.B. Frost's Shooting Pictures, now on display

Ask any hunter about his first or last hunt and I’m sure that he has a story to tell. A hand-signed set of A.B. Frost's acclaimed Shooting Pictures, now on display at our Madison Avenue location, brings to life the stories of hunters past as well as memorializing the great tradition. It is a must-see for any hunting enthusiast.

These atmospheric hunting scenes capture the pleasurable and exhilarating suspense right before the kill—the sensation which keeps every hunter addicted. Yet several notable artists have managed to capture as much which is why the real significance of Frost’s prints lies in his ability to transcend other themes. Namely, the glorification of the American hunting tradition, the experience of the great outdoors, the special father-son hunting dynamic, and the valued relationship between the huntsman and his dog.

Each work is hand-signed by the artist

We encourage you to experience the majesty of Frost’s Shooting Pictures in person for several reasons. At first Frost’s prints appear merely as an impressive set of hunting scenes, but further inspection reveals the justification behind Frost’s epithet as the greatest American sporting artist. Frost’s use of light aligns with the hunter’s mentality, creating a remarkable and tangible sensation for the observer. Indeed, the early morning light suggests an alert and patient huntsman in contrast to the low light of a hazy afternoon which evokes an anxious yet committed hunter. Frost uses landscape, in addition to light, to transcend temperament. The water scenes evoke a higher sense of concentration as the observer compensates with the hunter for the rockiness of the water, while the wood scenes make the observer conscience of his/her weight as he/she can imagine the noise of leaves crushing beneath the hunter’s boots. Lastly, Frost’s minimal compositions allow slight variations to greatly impact the ambiance.

In Rabbit Shooting, for example, the presence of the special father and son bond derives from the isolated atmosphere—hinting at the long hours spent bonding outdoors together. Furthermore, Frost’s decision to place the father in the forefront and facing towards his son suggests his importance as a role model/instructor. Similarly, Autumn Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse reflect the important function dogs play in hunting as Frost places them in the central foreground, leading the hunter to fruition.

Close up of Frost's "Rabbit Shooting"

Again, we are pleased to offer Frost’s extraordinary Shooting Pictures at our 1016 Madison Avenue gallery location. The prints, currently available for purchase, are also illustrated in our Hunt catalog. Please do not hesitate to call 212.628.7625 or email aradernyc@aradergalleries.com to request a copy. Hope to see you soon!