History and architecture
The Gainsborough Studios is a rare surviving example of artists' cooperative housing, a building type popular in Manhattan for a brief period in the early twentieth century. Built during the heyday of its type, in 1907-08, the Gainsborough provided both living and working spaces.
The handsome, distinctive design of the building reflects its unusual purpose. Large, double-height windows provide an abundance of northern light to the artists' studios. Designed , managed and inhabited by artists, the building was given artistic connotations via its name and the proliferation of exterior ornament.
The latter includes a bust of the artist Thomas Gainsborough in an ornate setting, multi-colored tile embedded in the brick facade, and an impressive frieze entitled "A Festival Procession of the Arts" by the successful sculptor Isidore Konti. The building was designed by architect Charles Buckham, a promoter of and innovator in apartment design utilizing the duplex plan.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.