So Big, So Beaux

What could be grander than a Beaux Arts building? In massive stone, it has it all: garlands, flowers, pilasters, balustrades, balconies, and more. Details are piled on top of details, like frosting on a wedding cake. It's no wonder the Beaux Arts style became a favorite for showy public buildings like the New York Public Library. But during the Gilded Age, wealthy families like the Vanderbilts built private homes in the lavish Beaux Arts style.

• The Beaux Arts Style
• The Vanderbilt Marble House
• The New York Public Library (photo tour)

^{Photo: The Vanderbilt Marble House, Public Domain Image by Daderot}