The Schoenhofen Pyramid Mausoleum is a tomb in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago. It was designed by Chicago School architect Richard E. Schmidt in the requested Egyptian Revival style as a family mausoleum for the Chicago brewer Peter Schoenhofen.
The Schoenhofen Pyramid Mausoleum is a steep sided tomb designed, like many of the monuments at Chicago's Graceland Cemetery, in the Egyptian Revival style.[1] The tomb is a family mausoleum constructed from gray granite. The pyramid structure is set upon a square base.[1] To the left of the entryway, is an angel, on the right of the entry stands a sphinx.[1] The pyramid's design combines both Egyptian (the sphinx) and Christian (the angel) symbols.[4] Regardless, the American Institute of Architects' Chicago guide book called the angel "rather out-of-place".[5] The door to the pyramid is styled after the gateways at Karnak, in Egypt, and is 40 inches wide by 84 inches high. A bronze molding of bundled reeds surrounds the door and the door's themselves feature cast lotus designs with coiled asps around the handles.[1]
While the Schoenhofen Mausoleum is a pyramid, and referred to as such, its design is only Egyptian-inspired. The angel on the tomb base is clearly not Egyptian and even the sphinx merely takes its inspiration from Egyptian architecture.[2] There are several historical works that are considered related to the Schoenhofen Mausoleum. The Roman funerary pyramid of Caius Cestius is considered a historical predecessor to the Schoenhofen Mausoleum.[2] Perhaps more closely related are the pyramid by Louis Carrogis Carmontelle at Parc Monceau in Paris and a cenotaph by Antonio Canova that was erected as the tomb of Maria Christina in Vienna at the Augustinian Church.[2]
Kiefer, Charles D., Achilles, Rolf, and Vogel, Neil A. "Graceland Cemetery" (pdf), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, June 18, 2000, accessed October 8, 2011.
↑ Hucke, Matt and Bielski, Ursula. Graveyards of Chicago: The People, History, Art and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries, (Google Books link), Lake Claremont Press, p. 20, ( ISBN0964242648).
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