Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

The Stewart Memorial is a small mausoleum constructed of rustic ashlar Quincy granite with a bluestone façade, adorned with two bronze bas-reliefs. Designer Stanford White and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens created the tomb, which stands on a knoll in Green-Wood Cemetery, long considered one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries.

Work on the tomb was part of a broader effort occurring throughout the cemetery to provide prepared assessments of the conditions (including historic research and preparation of funding applications) for this and three other monuments. The work was conducted by senior conservator Mark Rabinowitz.

While there was some evidence of shifting and spalling of the stone, as well as organic growth and lime discoloration, the masonry was in fair shape and the granite work was in relatively good condition. The bronze reliefs, on the other hand, had suffered from surface corrosion and deterioration that is typical of outdoor bronze statuary located in urban environments. The west relief was separating from the stone. A previous repair effort had used anchoring cement in an attempt to secure the panel, which had resulted in an acceleration of corrosion and disfiguration to the structure.

The scope of the treatment work did not include masonry restoration, however it was recommended that the structure be reset and repointed in the near future. The west bronze relief was detached from the mausoleum, and the cement patching was removed. The bronze was then remounted in its original position, using new bolts.

All bronzes were cleaned of soiling and loose corrosion with an appropriate, conservaton-approved detergent solution, then coated with a custom formulated wax. The lime discoloration was reduced by honing with a carborundum stone. Maintenance recommendations were made that would be viable for implementation by Green-Wood employees.

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