The roof molding of the Stadstimmerhuis contains two façades made by sculptor Gérard Héman. The stone is on the side of the Haagseveer Master builder. From street level, the Moselle limestone stone does not look that big, but the stone is three meters wide and two meters high. Héman has depicted a stylistic male figure with a capital in his left hand. We see the man on the back looking at the capital. His right fist is in the top right corner. An open compass is depicted at the bottom right, a reference to the man's profession: the master builder. In the reconstruction period a frequently used theme for building-related works of art, as a tribute to those who helped rebuild the city after the bombing. Both facing bricks were made during the construction of the Stadstimmerhuis (1947-1953), an office building designed by municipal architect JRA Koops. On the Meent side of the building, the other facing brick is located in the same place in the roof molding Child on horse. Both stones have an inscription of the letter H.
Gérard Héman (Duisburg, 1914 - Rotterdam, 1992) was a sculptor, painter and draftsman who attended the art academy in Rotterdam. He was born in Duisburg, but later moved to Schiebroek. Héman was engaged in woodcarving from a young age, which is why the influence of German Baroque folk art is noticeable in his work. Various of his works have been realized in the public space of Rotterdam. The best-known works are facade ornaments on the former bank building on Coolsingel.
Facing stone of a man with a capital in his left hand
Materials
Moselle limestone
Dimensions
2 3 x m
Year
1952
Client
Project architect JRA Koops
Money source
Construction budget, involved construction assignment
Owner
Property owner
About the artwork
The roof molding of the Stadstimmerhuis contains two façades made by sculptor Gérard Héman. The stone is on the side of the Haagseveer Master builder. From street level, the Moselle limestone stone does not look that big, but the stone is three meters wide and two meters high. Héman has depicted a stylistic male figure with a capital in his left hand. We see the man on the back looking at the capital. His right fist is in the top right corner. An open compass is depicted at the bottom right, a reference to the man's profession: the master builder. In the reconstruction period a frequently used theme for building-related works of art, as a tribute to those who helped rebuild the city after the bombing. Both facing bricks were made during the construction of the Stadstimmerhuis (1947-1953), an office building designed by municipal architect JRA Koops. On the Meent side of the building, the other facing brick is located in the same place in the roof molding Child on horse. Both stones have an inscription of the letter H.
Gérard Héman (Duisburg, 1914 - Rotterdam, 1992) was a sculptor, painter and draftsman who attended the art academy in Rotterdam. He was born in Duisburg, but later moved to Schiebroek. Héman was engaged in woodcarving from a young age, which is why the influence of German Baroque folk art is noticeable in his work. Various of his works have been realized in the public space of Rotterdam. The best-known works are facade ornaments on the former bank building on Coolsingel.
Hans Rombouts, 'The holy family in Overschie. Gérard Héman: myths, fairy tales, nativity scenes and saints', in: Rotterdam Yearbook 2013 (Rotterdam, 2013), 164-189
Hans Rombouts, Gérard Héman, the storyteller (Rotterdam, 2017)
