A Greek Revival 

Organ Case

for

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church

Richmond, Virginia

This New Organ case is perhaps the nation's only late 20th century organ case designed in the Greek Revival style of themid-19th century.  This case respects the rich Greek Revival architecture of St. Paul's  church.  The case is meant to look as if it had always been in the church.  Towards that end, the details of the case were derived from the well known American architectural treatise, The Beauties of Modern Architecture, by Minard Lafever.

A dominant element of the organ case is the large entablature spanning the top of the center section.  The gentle ramping of the top edge gives verticality to an essentially horizontal composition.

The capitals topping the maidens' heads employ a Greek Ionic order illustrated in Lafever's book and resemble in a general way the Ionic order of the Erectheion in Athens.

The form of the four piers supporting the entablature consist of tapered shafts topped with human heads. This device is called a '"term".  This design employees female heads crowned by Ionic capitals. 

In addition to the organ case, John Blatteau Associates designed a new altar table to be in keeping with the Greek Revival character of the interior of St. Paul's church.

The design of the table is based on Greek furniture of the Classical period.  Precedent  for this design can be seen in the frieze surrounding the interior of the Parthenon in Athens.

He not only guided the design, he also supported and defended it throughout the long approval process within the church.