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• Karl Bitter, sculptor, in his studio on East 13th Street, NYC, circa 1892

  A sepia toned digital photo, where the persons in the photograph had been colorized. Karl Bitter, seen second from left (1867-1915) was a Viennese sculptor who came to the United States in 1889, working as an assistant in an architectural sculpture firm. At the young age of 21, he competed for the Astor memorial bronze gates of Trinity Church and won. The work allowed him to build and establish a small studio on 13th Street that he shared with Italian sculptor, Giuseppe Moretti. In 1897 he purchased the 'Rheinish Castle' from the defunct Eldorado Amusement Park in Weehawken. He purchased additional property just north of the castle, redesigned as his atelier. There he proceeded to build his modern home.