Cincinnatus Mural

«Like there’s giant Roman temple right there!» you say to yourself, as you almost crash your car. No! It’s just a mural! Well, if you can’t have a giant Roman temple, then this is exactly what you should have. It’s a picture of a giant Roman temple painted right on a building! Or is it Greek? I don’t even know. And I don’t care! Whatever it is, it has to do with some white men. Do I need to go into what the matter is with white men and the people who founded our city and the people they looked up to? I don’t think so. «That’s just the way things were,» you say. And you’re right! That is the way things were. I can’t even remember what I was going to say, because all I’m thinking about is walking up that noble staircase that isn’t even really a staircase at all! This mural really makes you think.

Cincinnati is blessed to have several great murals downtown and many more scattered throughout the neighborhoods? This one one in particular is one of my favorites because of its sheer size and realistic features. At first glance you think parts to it might just be real — like the windows on the far right side mimicking their genuine counterparts on the far left. Likewise, it was very well done and fits in nicely with the street level lot and open area at its base.

Cincinnati is a city of murals, but the one that stands out the most for me is the Cincinnatus mural at the corner of Vine St. and Central Pkwy. You can read the other reviews or check out Wikipedia for the historical significance of Cincinnatus and Cincinnati’s personification in him, but for the rest of us non-​history buffs it’s simply an awesome, striking piece of art!

I’m no art critic, but I will say that this mural is the best piece of art that has ever been commissioned in the history of the entire world.
Ok…maybe not, but it’s really amazing. This giant painting on the side of the building on Central Parkway (near Vine) is an epic portrait of a Roman Coliseum with a statue of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, our city’s namesake, at it’s base.
Quick history lesson — Cincinnatus was a great leader way back when in old Ancient Rome. He was a war hero and rose to power but gave it all up when he felt he could do no more good and retired to a farm. This example gave birth to The Society of The Cincinnati after the American Revolution, which preached the words of good old Cincinnatus, and eventually lent it’s name to our city. Win!
This mural is the definition of epic. The first time you see it, it kind of makes your eyes bug-​out. You’re not quite sure what you’re looking at, but you know, without a doubt, that it is awesome. You kind of want to just climb those marble stairs and stand next to the flame and embrace the power of the scene … but you can’t … because it’s a painting. Just in case you were still confused.
Cincinnati has a lot of great murals — we even seem a little obsessed with them. This is, by far, my favorite. It’s a grand tribute to the history of our city and a real mark to the founders who came before us … plus, it sure is purrty.

Painted on the side of the Brotherhood Building on Central Parkway, the Cincinnatus Mural depicts the city’s legendary icon Lucius Quinctius Cincinnati. This Roman hero rose to the highest ranks of political power, but retired to work his farm after a successful military career. The Queen City was named for the Society of the Cincinnati, a group who honored George Washington – a man of the same ilk as the Roman leader.
Commissioned in 1983, New York artist Robert Haas employed the technique called trompe l’Oeil (or trick of the eye) to create a three-​dimensional effect on the side of the multi-​storied building. The scene depicts a marble statue of Cincinnatus, surrounded by elegant stairways, columns, and lofty dome.
If you’re in the Over-​the-​Rhine area, don’t let your eyes deceive you. And if they do, that’s the whole point.