Eads bridge for my grandparents

Eads Bridge, for my Grandparents

Piece description from the artist

In addition to celebrating the quaintly Americana Route 66 attractions and annual St. Louis hometown traditions, I love to reflect on the living history which is the City of St. Louis. The Eads Bridge, designed and built by James Buchanan Eads and opened in 1874, is only one small example of the very big influence St. Louis has through time. At the time, this bridge was the first to be built across the Mississippi River south of the Missouri River, although it is now the only surviving bridge across the river from that time, making it the oldest bridge connecting the two halves of our country. The technology used in its construction was revolutionary and used as a model for future iconic bridges, such as the Brooklyn Bridge. In this piece I’ve done an illustration of the bridge as it stands today, but placed it underneath an illustration of the bridge’s construction. It brings the past of this historical piece to the forefront, literally, and moves forward in the shadow of our time. This piece again shows off the wax medium’s versatility. The ability to layer and “shadow” images embedded in the painting contrasted with the light-catching copper leafing of the river’s reflection adds both depth, balance and movement to the imagery.

Other works by Leah Merriman

About Leah Merriman

St. Louis, MO

Leah Merriman is native to St. Louis, working primarily in encaustics to create ethereal, layered abstract landscapes on wood and paper. She also creates detailed illustrations of urban scenery and architecture and will often combine the two.

Merriman was influenced heavily by personal childhood and young adult illnesses and often found that being able to escape her own physical situation was only possible through her mind. She creates worlds you can "go into” and look around. Places you can stay in for a while, watch the scenery shift light, textures and colors in conjunction with the time of day. By practicing stillness and the awareness of being in the moment, an appreciation of your own mind’s ability to travel inward can be honed while still being acutely aware of your immediate physical world, striking an intriguing balance through the marriage of patience and escapism.

Merriman apprenticed in sculpture and illustration under local St. Louis Master Artist Rudolph Torrini in her late teen and early adult years.
She studied Drawing and Sculpture at Fontbonne University in St. Louis as well as photography and videography at Webster University, St. Louis, MO. She

See Leah's portfolio here
office

Learn more about the benefits of our service

An Art Advisor will get in touch with you today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your artwork needs.

Get Started