Art & Architecture at Hughes
Cincinnati Public Schools are guardians of a breathtaking array of art and architecture. The Hughes Center is considered by many to be the flagship of the Cincinnati Public Schools’ interesting buildings.
The photos in the galleries below are courtesy of The Art League and photographer Robert Flischel. In 2001, The Art League published An Expression of the Community to document through photography and essay Cincinnati Public Schools' legacy of art and architecture. You can purchase a copy of the book directly from The Art League's website.
Those who designed Cincinnati Public Schools chose pictorial, hand–crafted tiles as facings for the splash panels of fountains that adorned the school corridors. The tiles were bright, interesting, colorful, and touchable. They told stories, reinforced classroom learnings, and instilled the era's concepts of good taste and moral values.
Desigend by Clement J. Barnhorn, this Rookwood fountain can be found in a first floor hallway in the Hughes Center. It was presented to the school by The Art League in 1912.
This Rookwood fountain, with Donatello panel, was presented to the Hughes Center by the Class of 1912.
This Rookwood fountain with a decorative medallion was presented to the Hughes Center by the Class of 1931.
Rookwood fountain presented to the Hughes Center by the Class of 1938.
A Rookwood fountain presented to the Hughes Center by The Art League in 1939.
The panel of this Rookwood fountain is attributed to Clement J. Barnhorn. It was presented to the Hughes Center by the Class of 1947.
Whether indoors or out, colored tiles lend a strong artistic — and symbolic — quality to Cincinnati school buildings. Designers and artists typically incorporated tiles into the buildings for three distinct reasons: to mark entrances, arches, fountains, vestibules, and prosceniums; to provide regular rhythmic patterns; and to fix accents at crucial point.
This Rookwood fountain panel honors student William Bruckman, Jr. It was presented to the Hughes Center by his family in 1928.
This mosaic tile floor can be found in the foyer of the Hughes Center.
This Rookwood tile accent can be found on a fountain dedicated to the boys of WWII. It was presented to the Hughes Center by the Class of 1946.
This tile panel by Riccardo depicts the Trojan Horse from Homer's "Odyssey".
"Coat of Arms" reliefs decorate pillars in the foyer of the Hughes Center.
These Rookwood lunette reliefs are dedicated to the graduates to served in World War I.
Found in the foyer of the Hughes Center, sculptor Clement J. Barnhorn entitled this work "Obedience to Authority".
Many details in the Cincinnati Public Schools are inspired by the Gothic. The Hughes Center is closely modeled after Hampton Court Palace and sports a Jacobean tower and Gothic gargoyles.
This glazed terra cotta grotesque represents history.
This glazed terra cotta grotesque represents athletics.
This glazed terra cotta grotesque represents chemistry.
This glazed terra cotta grotesque represents literature.
This glazed terra cotta grotesque projects from the Hughes Center tower.
Printers' marks first appeared in mid-15th Century Europe. This collection of medieval printers' marks decorates the windows at the Hughes Center library. They were designed by the Lamb Studio in New York.
The final window displayed here was presented to the Hughes Center to honor Latin teacher Clara Jordan.
Aldus Manutius
Fust and Schoeffer
G. Simson 1592
H. Ballard 1597
John Partridge 1623
John Wolfe 1591
J. Windit 1586
Oxford University Press
Valentine Simmers
William Bailau
This window can be found in the library of the Hughes Center. It honors beloved Latin teacher Clara B. Jordan.
