Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Content: Dragons and Chimeras

Chimeras
* small chimeras, flame
* Over the entrance. 1921 Chestnut (North side of Chestnut between 19th and 20th).
* 39.951990,-75.172694 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified

St. Andrew and St. Monica Gargoyles
1883
* small dragons
* South and East walls. Church of St. Andrew and St. Monica. West side of 36th, South of Baring.
* 39.960600,-75.194050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Powelton tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+ssandrewmonica.org

Mother Bethel Gargoyles
Hazlehurst and Huckel (Architects), 1890
* dragons
* High on the walls. Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Northeast corner 6th and Lombard.
* 39.943375,-75.151850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lombard-South tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuilding.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Hazlehurst and Huckel page
+wikipedia.org's Mother Bethel AME Church page

Fisher Fine Arts Library Gargoyles
Frank Furness (Architect), 1891
* dragons
* On the walls. West side of 34th, South of Walnut (Woodland Walk side).
* 39.951700,-75.192975 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Frank Furness page

Gate and Gargoyles
Samuel Yellin, 1912
* small dragon head, abstract gate
* there are identical gargoyles on either side of the gate
* Gate (and gargoyles). South side of Latimer, West of 16th.
* 39.948150,-75.168350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+samuelyellin.com

Irvine Auditorium Gargoyles
1926
* small dragon heads
* Wall. South side of Irvine Auditorium. Northwest corner, 34th and Spruce.
* 39.950700,-75.193225 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Irvine Auditorium page

Liberty Title Building Dragons
Savery and Scheetz (Architects), 1929
* small dragons
* Entrance. South side of the Aloft Hotel. North side of Arch, East of Broad.
* 39.954465,-75.162790 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Savery and Scheetz page

Welsh Society Plaque
1968
* One line biographies of Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris and William Penn
* small dragon logo
* inscription:
The Welsh Society
Philadelphia
Organized March 1, 1729
Gogoniant i Dduw
Glory to God
Commemorating the Welsh contributions to the founding of the City of Philadelphia the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America
William Penn, 1644-1718, proclaimer of freedom of religion and planner of New Wales, later named Pennsylvania
Robert Morris, 1734-1806, foremost financier of the American Revolution and signer of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence
Gouverneur Morris, 1752-1816, author of the final draft of the Constitution of the United States
John Marshall, 1755-1835, Chief Justice of the United States and Father of American Constitutional Law
Erected on St. David's Day, March 1, 1968
* East wall. City Hall. Market at Juniper.
* 39.952250,-75.162750 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+philadelphiawelsh.org
+wikipedia.org's Thomas Jefferson page
+wikipedia.org's John Marshall page
+wikipedia.org's Gouverneur Morris page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Morris page
+wikipedia.org's William Penn page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Chinese Cultural and Community Center Dragons
Yang Cho-cheng (Architect), 1971
* small dragons, plants, water
* philadelphiabuildings.org lists C.C. Yang as the supervising architect. A preservationalliance.com document lists Yang Cho-cheng (also Yang Chou-cheng) as C.C. Yang.
* Wall. East side of 10th, South of Cherry.
* 39.954235,-75.156075 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+preservationalliance.com document listing Yang Cho-cheng
+wikipedia.org's Yang Cho-cheng page

Mario the Magnificent
Eric Berg, 2002
* In honor of Mario V. Mascioli
* dragon logo
* Based on the Drexel University logo.
* inscription: In honor of Mario V. Mascioli, '45, an exemplary alumnus
* On the campus of Drexel University. Southeast corner, 33rd and Market.
* 39.955400,-75.189325 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* See also:
+bergbronze.com's page for this piece
+bergbronze.com
+drexel.edu

The Dragons
Ward Tomlinson Elicker, 2009
* big dragons
* On top of the parking lot wall. North side of Arch, East of 9th.
* 39.953375,-75.154100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+elickersculpture.com

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
Theophilus Parsons Chandler Jr. (Architect), Henry Christopher McCook, Michael F. Scully, 1884 - 1886
* Symbols of and references to Jesus, Saint John, Saint Luke and Saint Mark
* dragons, plants, partial cherubs and angels, winged lion, winged ox, eagle, sun, candle, fire
* Rev. McCook is reported to have chosen the inscriptions
* inscription:
North Entrance: I am the door.
tower: My Goodness and My fortress. My High Tower and My Deliver. He in whom I trust.
East Entrance: We have seen his star in the East and are come to worship him.
shields:
He is risen.
Lampades multae, una lux.
Christus Exaltus Salvator.
Lux lucet in tenebris
Nec tamen consumebatur.
* North and East sides. Tabernacle United Church. Southwest corner, 37th and Chestnut.
* 39.954500,-75.196800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Chestnut 29th to 40th tour
* Exhibits: New, Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Theophilus P. Chandler Jr. page
+wikipedia.org's Henry Christopher McCook page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Michael F. Scully 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
+tabunited.org

Chambers-Wylie Gargoyles
Rankin and Kellog (Architects), 1901
* small faces, dragons
* Whole building. Broad Street Love. East side of Broad between Spruce and Pine.
* 39.946150,-75.164750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Rankin and Kellog page
+broadstreetlove.org

Taller Puertorriqueno Community Garden
* standing people, food, dragon, guitar, hats
* Inside the fence but clearly visible
* Next to the Administrative Building, Taller Puertorriqueno. East side of 5th, North of Lehigh.
* 39.992660,-75.140000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified, Black Lives
* See also:
+tallerpr.org

Interfaith House Gargoyles
1930 (building date)
* small crouching people wearing hats, dragon
* Third picture Copyright 2018 Marianne Porter
* In niches high on the front wall. South side of Chelten Ave., West of Germantown Ave..
* 40.035350,-75.175100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building

Buddha and Dragons
2010 (installed)
* Statue of Buddha
* big standing person, headgear, flask, small dragons
* Was at the former Phat Quang Buddhist Temple on 4th, North of Washington. The temple disappeared in 2019.
* 39.935210,-75.150400 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, Religious
* See also:
+whyy.org article about the sale of the temple
+wikipedia.org's Guatama Buddha page

City Hall, South Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* standing people, sitting people, heads, birds, dragons, book and scrolls, staff, cats, seal of Pennsylvania, horses, ship, plow, plants, bison head, squirrel, headgear
* Part of the whole building's art. City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951825,-75.163650 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

St. George and the Dragon
Elkington and Company, 1877 (sometimes listed 1876)
* Statue of Saint George
* seated person, horse, helmet, spear, dragon
* according to multiple sources this piece was previously at two different locations on Arch at 13th and 19th
* inscription:
Designed and cast
1877
Elkington & Company
Birmingham England
for
The Society of the Sons of St. George
of Philadelphia
Founded 1772
St. George's Day, 23 April, 1978
* Martin Luther King Drive just North of Black Road.
* 39.983050,-75.205900 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Moved
* See also:
+Society of St. George
+associationforpublicart.org page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Elkington & Company page
+newadvent.org's St. George page

First Presbyterian
Henry Augustus Sims (Architect), 1869 - 1872
* Presbyterian symbols, plants, fruit, bird, lizard, dragons, squirrel
* Whole building. First Presbyterian Church. Southeast corner, 21st and Walnut.
* 39.950650,-75.175550 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+Gargoyle Hunter's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Henry Augustus Sims page
+fpcphila.org

City Hall, East Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* beaver, crane and owl, butterfly, plants, elephant head, dragon heads, City Hall tower, city seal, ship, plow and scales, scrolls, standing people, reclining people, heads, headgear
* Part of the whole building's art. East entrance City Hall. Market at Juniper.
* 39.952300,-75.162800 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
1928 - 1929
* gargoyles and statue of Saint Paul
* small standing person, Bible, sword, crosses, plants, dragons and chimeras, snake, bird, fish
* inscription: Spiritus Gladius
* Whole building.. St. Paul's Episcopal Church. South side of Chestnut Hill Ave., East of Germantown Ave..
* 40.079100,-75.208850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+gargoyle hunter's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Paul the Apostle page
+stpaulschestnuthill.org

Chinatown Zodiac Medallions
Andrews Lefevre Studios, 2012
* symbols, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram), monkey, rooster, dog, pig
* Sidewalks. North side of Vine, East of 9th. The small medallions are arranged along Vine between 9th and 10th and along 10th North and South of Vine.
* 39.957170,-75.153823 [map] [nearby]
* On the Convention District tour
* See also:
+artist's article about this piece
+andrewslefevre.wordpress.com

Convent of Divine Love
Paul Monaghan (Architect), 1914 (date of building)
* Relief of winged Jesus
* sitting, standing, winged people, sword, dove, sun, dragon heads, symbols
* inscription:
Chapel Entrance: Venite Jesum Adoremus
:Convent Entrance: Come holy spirit. Beneath the shadow of thy wings we dwell.
* Whole building. Convent of Divine Love. Southwest corner, 22nd and Green.
* 39.965285,-75.174400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fairmount tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Paul Monaghan page
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+adorationsisters.org

Fidelity Bank Building
Richard William Morton Keast (Architect), Edward Paul Simon (Architect), Grant Miles Simon (Architect), 1928
* reclining people, heads, standing people, headgear, hammer, artists tools, quill and scroll, dragons, ship, weapons, lion, tree, donkey, sun, sundial
* Keast is listed in two places as the actual designer of the building, but Simon and Simon are officially credited.
* inscription:
Libertas Americana, 4 Juil 1776
Non sine diis animosusinians 17 Oct. 1777 - 19 Oct. 1781
Fugio. 1787, Mind your business
Value me as you please
Masathusets
* Whole building. East side of Broad between Sansom and Walnut.
* 39.949675,-75.163925 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Richard William Morton Keast page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Edward Paul Simon page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Grant Miles Simon page

Penn Quad Gargoyles
Cope and Stewardson (Architects), 1894 - 1911
* small crouching and horizontal people, heads, headgear, squirrel, seahorse, donkeys, frogs, dragon, balls, shields, books, food, staff, musical instruments
* Walls. Penn Quad. South side of Spruce from 36th to 38th.
* 39.950875,-75.197400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Cope and Stewardson page
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the Quad

Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
1924 (approximate)
* Includes a representation of Saint George
* coat of arms, lions, unicorn, helmet and crown, harp, seated person, lance, horse, dragon
* Best viewed from the North side of Walnut. The other emblems probably represent places where General Accident operated.
* inscription:
Honi soit qui mal y pense
Dieu et mon droit
* Entrance. South side of Walnut, West of 4th.
* 39.947320,-75.148480 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's entry for the coat of arms
+newadvent.org's St. George page