Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Year: 1927

Fidelity Mutual Building
Lee Lawrie, 1926 - 1927
* Building renamed in honor of Raymond G. Perelman and Ruth Perelman
* big and small people standing sitting, furniture, weapons, kite, ships, tools and machines, dogs, horses, alligators, elephants, owls, squirrels, buildings, trains, plants, symbols and words
* Originally an insurance building. Donated to the Art Museum by the Perelmans. The pictures here are only a representative sampling of the art.
* inscription:
Pennsylvania side:
In the honor and perpetuity of the family is founded the state. In the nobler life of the household is the nobler life of mankind.
26th side:
He labors best who loves best : the finest work of a man's life is to open the doors of opportunity to those who depend on him.
* The whole building. Perelman Annex. Northwest corner of Fairmount and Pennsylvania.
* 39.967490,-75.179490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Max Buten's picture of one of the reliefs
+Another Max Buten picture of one of the reliefs
+wikipedia.org's Lee Lawrie page
+wikipedia.org's Raymond G. Perlman page




Athena and Cherubs
1927
* relief bust of Athena
* small cherubs, head, helmet
* Way over the entrance. East side of 15th, South of Locust.
* 39.948200,-75.166160 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Athena page




Barbelin Hall Gargoyles
1927
* including heads of Felix-Joseph Barbelin, James A. Ryder and Burchard Villiger
* small partial people, hats, cat, bat, books, saxaphone
* the builder is John McShain, but there's no record of him being the gargoyle carver
* All over the building. Saint Joseph's University. City Line, West of 54th.
* 39.995250,-75.237950 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+Gargoyle Hunter page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Felix-Joseph Barbalin page
+wikipedia.org's James A. Ryder page
+wikipedia.org's Burchard Villiger page
+Saint Joseph's University




Bonwit Teller Building
Bella Abdallah, 1927 (approximate)
* small urns, cats, birds, standing people, seated cherubs, pens and books, mirrors, face, Egyptian headpiece, flame
* Artist attribution is from philadelphiabuildings.org
* Entrance. Southwest corner, 17th and Chestnut.
* 39.951430,-75.169000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building




Central Library Pediments
John Donnelly Company, 1927
* big groups of people, some standing, some sitting, sphinx, pyramid, urn, plant, chair, globe, stylus, scroll, tablet and books, typewriter and printing press
* Pediments. Central Library. North side of Vine between 19th and 20th.
* 39.959300,-75.171100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+Central Library




Congregation Rodeph Shalom Entrance
Nicola D'Ascenzo Studios, 1927
* scroll and tablet, large cats, angel wings, tree, sun, other symbols
* inscription: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples
* Entrance. Congregation Rodeph Shalom. East side of Broad Street at Green.
* 39.963825,-75.160900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fairmount tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Mosaic
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org Nicola D'Ascenzo page
+rodephshalom.org




Curtis Institute Reliefs
1927
* sitting and reclining people, musical instruments, plants
* North wall. Curtis Institute. South side of Locust, East of 18th.
* 39.948860,-75.170340 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+Curtis Institute
+philadelphiabuilding.org's listing for the building




Floating Figure
Gaston Lachaise, 1927
* horizontal person
* Despite its mention in Public Art in Philadelphia, this sculpture is not publicly accessible. It is behind a locked gate. Do not go through the gate if you find it open. It will lock behind you.
* Locust between 2nd and 3rd (Society Hill Townhouses).
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Gaston Lachaise page




Gargoyles
1927
* small heads
* Fire station wall. South corner, Foulkrod and Darrah.
* 40.017000,-75.081340 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lower Northeast tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters, Gargoyles




Gimbel Brothers Clock
1927
* clock
* Wall. Northeast corner, 9th and Chestnut.
* 39.949875,-75.155375 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building




Scottish Rite Emblems
1927 (date of building. Metal emblem may be later)
* Scottish Rite emblems, double-headed eagles, crowns
* inscription:
emblems:
Deus Meumque Jus
plaque:
Supreme Council
AASR Nor Jur.
Prince Hall Affiliation
* Front wall. Scottish Rite Cathedral. South side of Fitzwater West of 15th.
* 39.942050,-75.168410 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* See also:
+uscnjpha.org