Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Person: John Witherspoon

Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon
Joseph Alexis Bailly, 1876 (unconfirmed)
* Statue of John Witherspoon
* standing person, scroll
* inscription:
front:
A lineal descendant of John Knox
Born in Scotland February 5 1722
Ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church 1745
President of the College of New Jersey 1788-1794
The only clergyman in the Continental Congress
A signer of the Declaration of Independence
Died at Princeton, New Jersey November 15, 1794
right:
For my own part of property I have some of reputation. More, that reputation is staked, that property is pledged, on the issue of this contest. And although these grey hairs must soon descend into sepulchre I would infinitely rather that they descend thither by the hand of the executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.
left:
"Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all its inhabitants thereof" -Levit. XX 10
* North side of the East end loop of the Horticulture Center. N. Horticulture Drive. East of Belmont.
* 39.984050,-75.208900 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Joseph Alexis Bailly page
+myphillypark.org's Horticulture Center page




Witherspoon Building
1895 - 1897
* References to and representations of Albert Barnes, Charles Hodge, Jesus, Saint John, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Matthew and John Witherspoon
* small lion, birds, ox, plants, books, winged person, groups of people, standing people, reclining people, heads and eyes, fire, scales, headgear, anchor, cup, furniture, various religious symbols
* Some art was moved to the Presbyterian Historical Society: Witherspoon Building Figures
* Entire Building. West side of Juniper between Sansom and Walnut, and along the North side of Walnut West of Juniper.
* 39.949250,-75.163200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Gayborhood tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles, Unidentified
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org Albert Barnes page
+wikipedia.org Charles Hodge page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's John the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Luke the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Mark the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Matthew the Apostle page




Witherspoon Building Figures
Alexander Stirling Calder, 1898
* Statues of James Caldwell, Samuel Davies, Francis Makemie, John McMillan, Marcus Whitman and John Witherspoon
* standing people, hats, books and papers, wagon wheel
* The first six pictures are of the individuals in the order listed on the plaques. The last two are detail shots. The pieces are visible up close when the gates are open and through the gates when they are closed.
* Originally on the Witherspoon Building
* inscription:
Francis Makemie
c1658-1708
John Witherspoon
1723-1794
John McMillan
1752-1833
Samuel Davies
1723-1761
James Caldwell
1734-1781
Marcus Whitman
1802-1847
* Front courtyard. Presbyterian Historical Society. North side of Lombard, East of 5th.
* 39.942900,-75.149950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lombard-South tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Stirling Calder page
+wikipedia.org's James Caldwell page
+wikipedia.org's Samuel Davies page
+wikipedia.org's Francis Makemie page
+findagrave.com's Rev. John McMillan page
+wikipedia.org's Marcus Whitman page
+Presbyterian Historical Society at pcusa.org




St. Andrew's Society Tablet
1926
* Insignia representation of the first, in memory of the rest: Saint Andrew, Philip Livingston, Thomas McKean, George Ross, James Wilson and John Witherspoon
* small insignia, crown, plants, eagle, arrows, lion, standing St. Andrew with cross
* inscription:
To the Memory of five of its members
who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776
The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia
organized in 1747
dedicated this tablet 1926
Nemo me impune lacessit
* Courtyard wall. West side of the South Pavilion. City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.952120,-75.163700 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+standrewsociety.org
+wikipedia.org's Andrew the Apostle page
+wikipedia.org's Philip Livingston page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas McKean page
+wikipedia.org's George Ross page
+wikipedia.org's James Wilson page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page




Signers Walk
Franklin Mint, 1975 (installed current location 1999)
* Plaques with relief busts of John Adams, Samuel Adams, Carter Braxton, Charles Carroll, George Clymer, William Floyd, Elbridge Gerry, Button Gwinnett, Benjamin Harrison V, Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch Jr., Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, Thomas Nelson, Jr., William Paca, Robert Treat Paine, Caesar Rodney, George Ross, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, James Smith, George Taylor, William Williams, John Witherspoon and George Wythe
* small heads, parts of buildings
* Donated by the Franklin Mint in 1975. Moved to the current location in 1999. People listed are those visible June 20, 2022. Many of the plaques are missing or damaged. One was covered by a planter. Preference given here to likenesses of those least represented in the database as of 7/4/2022.
* inscription:
These plaques commemorate the 56 members of the Continental Congress who risked their lives, reputation, and fortunes by signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and 1777.
* Sidewalk. South side of Chestnut between 6th and 7th.
* 39.949260,-75.151575 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* Exhibits: Missing, Moved
* See also:
+inquirer.com article about this piece
+wikipedia.org's Franklin Mint page
+wikipedia.org's John Adams page
+wikiedia.org's Samuel Adams page
+wikipedia.org's Carter Braxton page
+wikipedia.org's Charles Carroll page
+wikipedia.org's George Clymer page
+wikipedia.org's William Floyd page
+wikipedia.org's Elbridge Gerry page
+wikipedia.org's Button Gwinnett page
+wikipedia.org's Benjamin Harrison V page
+wikipedia.org's Joseph Hewes page
+wikipedia.org's William Hooper page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Jefferson page
+wikipedia.org's Francis Lightfoot Lee page
+wikipedia.org's Philip Livingston page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Lynch Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas McKean page
+wikipedia.org's Arthur Middleton page
+wikipedia.org's Lewis Morris page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Morris page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Nelson, Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's William Paca page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Treat Paine page
+wikipedia.org's Caesar Rodney page
+wikipedia.org's George Ross page
+wikipedia.org's Edward Rutledge page
+wikipedia.org's Roger Sherman page
+wikipedia.org's James Smith page
+wikipedia.org's George Taylor page
+wikipedia.org's William Williams page
+wikipedia.org's George Wythe page




Declaration of Independence
Tiequn Geng, Guangxi Qihe Bronze Studio, Dr. Komuro Hiromi, Dr. QiongZhao (Ellen) Schicktanz, John Trumbull, 2017 (installed)
* Full figure reliefs of John Adams, Samuel Adams, Josiah Bartlett, Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Abraham Clark, George Clinton, George Clymer, John Dickinson, William Ellery, William Floyd, Benjamin Franklin, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, Benjamin Harrison V, Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward Jr., William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson, Samuel Huntington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Robert R. Livingston, Thomas Lynch Jr., Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis Morris, Robert Morris, William Paca, Robert Treat Paine, George Read, Benjamin Rush, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman, Richard Stockton, Charles Thomson, George Walton, William Whipple, William Williams, Thomas Willing, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott and George Wythe
* small people, some standing, some sitting, furniture, paper and pens, interior of Independence Hall
* inscription: (partial)
This bronze sculpture replicates John Trumbull's famous painting Declaration of Independence that is displayed in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. It depicts the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress in Independence Hall on June 28, 1776, by the drafting committee, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston (shown seated to the left of the table).
Forty-two of the 56 signers of the Declaration are portrayed; Trumbull originally intended to include the 56 signers, but was unable to obtain likenesses for all of them. He also portrayed five people who did not sign the Declaraion, but who were present on June 28th. Because the Declaration was debated and signed over a period of six to eight weeks, the men shown here were never in Independence Hall at the same time.
The sculpture is a donation from Dr. QiongZhao (Ellen) Schicktanz, a naturalized Asian-American artist, in gratitude for her life as an American Citizen.
* North wall. Museum of the American Revolution. South side of Chestnut, East of 3rd.
* 39.948500,-75.145750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Old City tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's page for the original painting
+americangoddessartmuseum.com (Ellen Schicktanz)
+wikipedia.org's John Trumbull page
+wikipedia.org's John Adams page
+wikiedia.org's Samuel Adams page
+wikipedia.org's Josiah Bartlett page
+wikipedia.org's Charles Carroll page
+wikipedia.org's Samuel Chase page
+wikipedia.org's Abraham Clark page
+wikipedia.org's George Clinton page
+wikipedia.org's George Clymer page
+wikipedia.org's John Dickinson page
+wikipedia.org's William Ellery page
+wikipedia.org's William Floyd page
+The Electric Franklin
+wikipedia.org's Elbridge Gerry page
+wikipedia.org's John Hancock page
+wikipedia.org's Benjamin Harrison V page
+wikipedia.org's Joseph Hewes page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Heyward Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's William Hooper page
+wikipedia.org's Stephen Hopkins page
+wikipedia.org's Francis Hopkinson page
+wikipedia.org's Samuel Huntington page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Jefferson page
+wikipedia.org's Richard Henry Lee page
+wikipedia.org's Francis Lewis page
+wikipedia.org's Philip Livingston page
+wikipedia.org's Robert R. Livingston page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Lynch Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas McKean page
+wikipedia.org's Arthur Middleton page
+wikipedia.org's Lewis Morris page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Morris page
+wikipedia.org's William Paca page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Treat Paine page
+wikipedia.org's George Read page
+wikipedia.org's Benjamin Rush page
+wikipedia.org's Edward Rutledge page
+wikipedia.org's Roger Sherman page
+wikipedia.org's Richard Stockton page
+wikipedia.org's Charles Thomson page
+wikipedia.org's George Walton page
+wikipedia.org's William Whipple page
+wikipedia.org's William Williams page
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Willing page
+wikipedia.org's James Wilson page
+wikipedia.org's Oliver Wolcott page
+wikipedia.org's George Wythe page
+amrevmuseum.org


See Also

+wikipedia.org's John Witherspoon page