Artist Jan-Marie Spanard drew inspiration from an Albany landmark to transform the bland limestone face of the Albany Public Library to an ornate Gothic edifice.

The artist incorporated exterior elements of the D&H Building (currently headquarters to the State University system), built in 1918 but modeled after older European structures built in the Flemish Gothic style.

Execution of the 4,000-square-foot trompe l'oeil architectural mural, from research and design through final detail work, took two years and was completed in Fall 2001.