Art and Architecture
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Lives Memorialized in Timeless Art
Cemetery Iconography
In 1833 Alexander Walsh, a horticulturalist and native of Lansingburgh, spoke to the New York
Horticultural Society about the benefits of a rural cemetery. He is quoted as saying" Nature
conveyed God's gifts and messages and could soothe mourners, inspire the disheartened, and
teach proper conduct to the youth. The new, rural cemetery would have plantings to cheer the
eye, trees to attract the soothing songs of birds, and hills, valleys, ponds or streams to provide
picturesque views. This new kind of burial ground provided for the emotional and spiritual
needs of the living, as well as the respectful burial of the dead."
Cemetery iconography completes the picture that Alexander Walsh was conveying in 1833.
The use of trees, birds, animals, and flowers carved into stone assured the mourner that their
dearly departed were united with God through the blessings of nature that God had bestowed
upon us.
Some iconography is distinctive to the deceased person. For instance, the lamb or a small
cherub was often used for a child's headstone; a broken tree limb symbolized a life cut short.
Laurel wreaths, anchors, hearts and urns all convey the message of love, respect and honor for
the departed.
Statues
Before the days of installation art and sculpture gardens, rural cemeteries such as Oakwood
became virtual outdoor museums, displaying the works of well-known contemporary sculptors
as memorials to the deceased.
Oakwood is home to thousands of individual statues and sculptures. One of the most
noteworthy is a bronze, life-size sculpture of Julia Taloe Paine. It is the final work of William
Rinehart, considered to be the last important American sculptor to work in the classical style.
Celtic Crosses
Oakwood has some spectacular examples of the art of the Celtic Cross, which is said to be a
pillar linking heaven and earth. Exquisite floral carvings, symbolizing innocence and purity,
adorn the cross of Cora Elizabeth Prince, a descendent of the Warren family, who died at age
18. Take our Celtic Cross Tour to learn more about the history and symbolism of these ancient-
style memorial stones.
