page_title: Edward Ardolino
section_title: The Federal Triangle
hierarchical_section_title: Edward Ardolino / Career / The Federal Triangle
caption_attribution_description: The centerpiece of the pediment on the PA. Ave NW side. &quot;Destiny,&quot; January 12, 1936 Design by Adolph A. Weinman Carved by Edward Ardolino Company In Adolph Weinman's highly symbolic pediment for the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the National Archives Building, an enthroned Zeus-like figure &quot;Destiny&quot; is flanked by figures representing &quot;The Arts of War&quot; and &quot;The Arts of Peace.&quot; These are surrounded by figures representing &quot;The Romance of History&quot; and &quot;The Song of Achievement.&quot; Weinman's theme was that progress is determined by knowledge of the past: knowledge gained through documents held in the Archives.
context_page_description: Ermelindo Eduardo Ardolino, known as Edward Ardolino was an Italian-born American stone carver and architectural sculptor of the early twentieth century. He was the most prominent member of the Ardolino family of stone carvers. He worked with leading architects and sculptors, including architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and sculptor Lee Lawrie. Ardolino participated in at least nine Goodhue-Lawrie collaborations including the Los Angeles Public Library and the Nebraska State Capitol. His carvings adorn a significant number of important public and private buildings and monuments, including four buildings in the Federal Triangle of Washington, D.C.
context_section_description: In the early 1930s when the Federal Triangle was being developed, Ardolino was on a short list of nationally known stone carvers. In the opinion of highly respected architect John Russell Pope, there were only three New York firms whose carvings would be "properly done". They were Edward Ardolino, John Donnelly, and Piccirilli Brothers. During this period Ardolino was awarded commissions for four federal buildings. All four reside within a designated historical district. 
  The Department of Commerce Building, designed by architects York and Sawyer, was constructed from 1927 to 1932. The modeling firm was Ricci and Zari. Ardolino's carvings include: the eagles along the cornice of the 14th Street façade, the third floor keystones, four panels at each of four driveway entrances, and eight urns.
  The Department of the Post Office, later called the Federal Building, was designed by Delano and Aldrich and built between 1931 and 1934. Edward Ardolino company carved the metopes (Adolph Alexander Weinman, sculptor) and keystones (modeled by Ricci Studios). At the height of the Post office carving in 1933, Ardolino employed at least 36 carvers.
  The Departmental Auditorium, designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr., was constructed from 1931 to 1936. Edward Ardolino company carved the Constitution Avenue pediment "Columbia" (Edgar Walter, sculptor) and also the nearby panels in the upper right and left corners behind the columns (Léon Hermant, sculptor) and the panel and spandrels above the central arch behind the columns (Edmond Amateis, sculptor).
  The National Archives Building, designed by architect John Russell Pope in partnership with Otto R. Eggers and Daniel Paul Higgins, was erected between 1933 and 1935. Ardolino carved the Pennsylvania Avenue pediment "Destiny", for sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman. The sculptor approved so strongly of Ardolino's role in executing the pedimental sculpture he invited him to add his name to the limestone pediment. Nowhere else in the Federal Triangle does a building bear the name of a carver.
caption: Destiny pediment, National Archives Building, sculpted by Weinman, carved by Ardolino
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