The Old State House
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Historical Marker #1524 is located on the Old State Capitol grounds in Frankfort, where artist Paul Sawyier painted many landmarks. These included the town's old covered bridge, the fountain in front of the old post office and court house, and the Old State Capitol.
Many of Sawyier's Frankfort cityscapes include the steeples of the county courthouse, Good Shepherd Church, and the old federal courthouse. During Sawyier's lifetime his works were popular in central Kentucky, particularly in Frankfort.
His paintings continue to be admired, and, in 1972, the commonwealth honored Sawyier long after his death as a "Kentucky Heritage Artist." Sawyier has received little recognition outside of Kentucky and there have been few exhibitions that have included his work. Three Sawyier paintings were part of an exhibition in 1965 at the University of New Mexico Art Gallery entitled, "Impressions in America." This same exhibit was also shown in San Francisco at the De Young Memorial Museum. Interestingly, even though some of his most critically acclaimed paintings were done while living in the Catskills region of New York, he fell into complete obscurity in that region after his death.
Today, the Kentucky Historical Society has the world's largest collection of Paul Sawyier paintings.
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Wapping Street
Painting of Wapping Street by Paul Sawyier. Photo courtesy of the University of Kentucky.
Drinking Fountain at Post Office
Painting by Paul Sawyier of the drinking fountain in front of what was then the post office on Wapping Street in Frankfort.. Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Old State Capitol
Painting of the Old State Capitol in the snow by Paul Sawyier. Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Haitorical Society.
Bridge Street
Painting of Bridge Street, looking toward the Old State Capitol, by Paul Sawyier. Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Covered Bridge, Frankfort
Painting of the covered bridge in Frankfort by Paul Sawyier. Seen above the bridge are the steeples of Good Shepherd Church and the Post Office. Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Old State Capitol
Photo of the Old State Capitol on Broadway in Frankfort. Photo courtesy of Amy Roe.