Driskell Hotel Architectural Sculpture, (sculpture).

Driskell Hotel Architectural Sculpture, (sculpture).

Jasper N. Preston and Sons, architectural firm.

Driskell Hotel Architectural Sculpture, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: limestone.

Three busts, three animal heads, and six gargoyles adorn the facade of the four-story Driskill Hotel. The busts portray members of the Driskill family -- Col. Jesse L. Driskill; J. W. (Bud) Driskell, and W. W. (Tobe) Driskell. Each bust is perched high atop a circular pillar that rises just above the roof peak over the entrances on the south, east and west facades. The bust of Colonel Jesse L. Driskill is located over the south entrance; the bust of Tobe Driskill is over the east entrance; and the bust of Bud Driskell is over the west entrance. At the base of each pillar is a longhorn steer head. At either end of the legend is a small gargoyle.

Portrait male -- Driskill, Jesse L. -- Bust

Portrait male -- Driskill, W. W. -- Bust

Portrait male -- Driskill, J. W. -- Bust

Animal -- Cattle

Fantasy -- Monster

Outdoor Sculpture -- Texas -- Austin

Architectural component

Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos Street, On south, east and west facades, Austin, Texas 78701

The Driskill Hotel opened December 20, 1886 and cost approximately $400,000 furnished. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Jasper N. Preston and Sons. Medallions on one or two of the facades read: 1886. A historical marker on south side of hotel reads: Driskill Hotel/Built 1885-1886/by Col. Jesse L./Driskill (1824-1890), Cattle King/who moved to Austin in 1869./Brick dressed with limestone./Had three grand entrances-/one the largest arched doorway in/Texas. "Ladies Entrance" was on/northeast. Bust of Col. Driskill/is over south arch, busts of his/rancher sons on east and west./Rich furnishings were selected/by Col. Driskill, who leased out/his hotel-southwest's finest/when opened, Christmas 1886./Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1966.

IAS files contain images of only one of the portrait busts; one steer and one gargoyle; and contain brochure "The Driskill: Austin, Texas-A Walking Tour," n.d. For further reading see Austin Statesman, Dec. 17, 1886; Daily Texan, 1936; and Austin American, July 25, 1937. The hotel is a Texas Historic Landmark.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Texas, Austin survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System