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Frieze of the Genius Loci
Above: View of faux cornice surmounting frieze and ashlar mural in the Israel Sack Gallery at the MMA. The Frieze of the Genius Loci is an oil on plaster 20" x120" architectural ornament painted by James Langley as commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art together with the painted faux cornice and ashlar mural.
The trompe l'oeil Langley murals are located in the center stair of the Israel Sack Galleries at ground floor level of the American Wing, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York. These new classical galleries in MMA American Wing are designed by Thomas Gordon Smith Architects.
Grecian revival influences in the gallery include marble floor and stair with mahogony handrail, bronze newels, trompe l'oiel frieze and faux cornice surmounting ashlar mural. Note the pilaster relief on Pillar as fully salvaged and restored from Astor Place NYC.
Also visible is a game table by Charles-Honoré Lannuier, the French-born American cabinetmaker (1779–1819) who lived and worked in New York City.
