Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Content: Winged People, Cherubs and Angels

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

Winged Woman
Arlene Love, 1988
* winged head and torso
* West side of 19th Street South of Locust.
* 39.949085,-75.173225 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+Arlene Love interview on vimeo.com

Cherubs
* mostly vertical cherubs
* Wall. North side of South, East of 5th.
* 39.941850,-75.150400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lombard-South tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified

Schiller
Heinrich Manger, 1886
* Statue of Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller
* two standing people, one winged, torch, sitting person, tree stump, quill
* South side near the East end of the central promenade under a tree in the Horticulture Center. Horticulture Drive. East of Belmont..
* 39.982750,-75.211800 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* See also:
+fr.wikipedia.org's Heinrich Manger page (translated from French)
+wikipedia.org's Schiller page
+myphillypark.org's Horticulture Center page

Epiphany Chapel
Isaac Pursell (Architect), 1898
* standing angel, heads
* As of 11/25/2024 there are several very different histories of this building on the web. I am choosing to believe the Epiphany Chapel section of the wikipedia page for St. Luke and the Epiphany, though I have not yet found any corroborating evidence that Pursell was the architect.
* inscription: Gloria In Excelcis Deo
* Whole building. Saint John Chrysostom. East side of 17th, South of Vine.
* 39.957850,-75.167300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's St. Luke and the Epiphany page
+Gargoyle Hunter page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Isaac Pursell page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Isaac Pursell page
+oca.org's Saint John Chrysostom parish page

Manufacturers Club
1911
* small partial winged people, fruit
* South wall. Northwest corner, Broad and Walnut.
* 39.949500,-75.164525 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building

Widener Building
Horace Trumbauer (Architect), 1914
* horizontal angels, globes, Philadelphia seal, ship, plow, bundles of grain
* also on the North end of the building
* Entrance. North side of Chestnut, West of Juniper.
* 39.950800,-75.162950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Gayborhood tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Horace Trumbauer page

Civil War Sailors Memorial
Hermon Atkins MacNeil, 1921
* big stele, angel, group of people, standing, lying and kneeling, suggestion of a ship, hats, weapons, anchor, seahorses, eagles
* inscription:
front top: In giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the free.
front bottom: All who have labored today in behalf of the Union have wrought for the best interests of the country and the world not only for the present but for all future ages.
back: Port Royal, Port Hatteras, Port Henry, Hampton Roads, New Orleans, Memphis, Port Hudson, Charleston, Mobile Bay, Drury's Bluff, Cherbourg, Fort Fisher, 1961-1865.
* South side of the Parkway, West of 20th.
* 39.959420,-75.172960 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+another phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Hermon Atkins MacNeil page

Mt. Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church Entrance
1923
* Symbol of Jesus
* small kneeling angels, cross, plants
* The building was originally built by the Mt. Olivet congregation, and was sold some time between March 2023 and July 2024. The cross in this piece was painted black when checked in Street View on October 4, 2024.
* inscription: Where Neighborhood Becomes the Brotherhood
* Above the door. West Philadelphia Assembly for Christ. East side of 42nd at Wallace.
* 39.963750,-75.207000 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified, Black Lives
* See also:
+hiddencityphila.org article that includes the church building
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+facebook.com/WPACchurch

Art Museum Cherub
Julian Abele (Architect), 1928
* small upright winged person
* Over the back door. Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966075,-75.181700 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Julian Abele page
+youtube.com video of a recorded lecture from the Art Museum about the role of Julian Abele in designing the building
+philamuseum.org

Playing Angels
Carl Milles, 1950
* vertical angels, musical instruments
* Kelly Drive and Fountain Green Drive.
* 39.980225,-75.198840 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kelly Drive tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Carl Milles page

Awakening
Ron T. Pierce, 1971
* small standing angel, horn
* Visible through the fence
* Side yard, Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia. Southwest corner, 19th and Fitzwater.
* 39.942700,-75.174050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+facebook.com page for The Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia

United House of Prayer For All People
* two lions, standing angels, three crosses
* Front wall. United House of Prayer For All People. Haverford and Preston.
* 39.962800,-75.204150 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified, Black Lives
* See also:
+tuhopfap.org
+wikipedia.org's United House of Prayer for All People page

Union Baptist Church Gargoyles
1832 (cornerstone)
* Symbols of Jesus, Saint John, Saint Mark and Saint Matthew
* small kneeling and partial angels, torches, winged bulls, winged lions, crosses, crowns, birds, musical instruments, books
* Walls. Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia. South side of Fitzwater, West of 19th.
* 39.942775,-75.174475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's John the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Mark the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Matthew the Apostle page
+facebook.com page for The Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia

St. Anthony Club Cherubs
Wilson Eyre (Architect), 1888
* small partial, horizontal cherubs
* Wall. West side of 22nd, North of Chestnut.
* 39.952900,-75.177050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Wilson Eyre page

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

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

Rodin Museum Gateway
1929 (year of building)
* seated and reclining people (cherubs, unfinished headless person), head scarf, scales and other tools, plants, musical instrument
* inscription: This architectural fragment is a reproduction of parts of the old Chateau Dissy re-erected by Auguste Rodin at Meudon, France near the studio where most of his work was done.
This replica of the Rodin Memorial at Meudon was chosen by Jules E. Mastbaum for the gateway to the Museum.
* Entrance. Rodin Museum. North side of the Parkway between 21st and 22nd.
* 39.961600,-75.174400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* See also:
+rodinmuseum.org

Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial
Walker Hancock, 1952
* big vertical people (one winged)
* prominently displayed in the movie Witness
* inscription:
front:
In memory of the men and women of the Pennsylvania Railroad who laid down their lives for our country 1941-1945.
back:
That all travelers here may remember those of the Pennsylvania Railroad who did not return from the Second World War.
* East end of the main lobby. 30th Street Station. Northeast corner, 30th and Market.
* 39.955655,-75.181400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Exhibits: Religious, War, Mass Transit
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Walker Hancock page
+wikipedia.org's 30th Street Station page

Saint Nicholas Church
1976
* Mosaic and cross of Jesus
* big person from the waist up, kneeling angels, symbols
* Entrance and steeple. South side of Poplar, West of 24th.
* 39.972075,-75.176360 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fairmount tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page

Mary and Jesus with Angels
1851 (year of building)
* statue of Jesus and Mary
* small people, one standing, one held, two flying angels
* Wall. Saint Mark's Church. North side of Locust between 16th and 17th.
* 39.948735,-75.168200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Fleisher Medallion
1886 (year of building)
* Representation of Jesus and Mary
* small people standing, partial people, winged cherubs, headgear, plants
* Wall. Fleisher Art Memorial. North side of Catherine between 7th and 8th.
* 39.939090,-75.155225 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Philly tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+fleisher.org

Franz Schubert
Henry Baerer, 1891
* Bust of Franz Schubert
* head, people standing, cherubs, musical instruments, plants
* inscription: Grand Prize awarded to the German Singers of Philadelphia Newark, N.J. 4-8ten Juli 1891
* In the middle of the East end loop of the Horticulture Center. Horticulture Drive, East of Belmont.
* 39.983550,-75.209125 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Henry Baerer page
+wikipedia.org's Franz Schubert page
+myphillypark.org's Horticulture Center page

Civil War Soldiers Memorial
Hermon Atkins MacNeil, 1921
* big stele, group of people, standing people, angel, hats, weapons, flag, eagle, horse
* The last picture is of the reference to this piece from the mural at 12th and Walnut
* inscription:
front top: One country, one Constitution, one destiny.
front bottom: Each for himself gathered up the cherished purposes of life, its aims and ambitions, its dearest affections, and flung all with life itself into the scale of battle.
back: Donaldson, The Peninsula, Antietem, Murfreesborg, Chancelorsville, Gettysburg, Chickanagua, Chattanooga, Petersburg, Atlanta, Appomatox, 1861-1865
* North side of the Parkway, West of 20th.
* 39.959650,-75.172650 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+another phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Hermon Atkins MacNeil page

Independence Building Reliefs
1925
* Relief medallions of Athena and Hermes
* small sitting, kneeling, standing people, angel, helmets, Independence Hall tower, machines and tools, papers, scrolls, and books, ship, cornucopias, symbols and allegories
* Best viewed from the North side of Walnut
* Entrance, North and West walls. South side of Walnut, East of 5th.
* 39.947415,-75.149200 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Athena page
+wikipedia.org's Hermes page

Drexel Building
Charles Zeller Klauder (Architect), O.W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works, 1928
* zodiac signs and symbols, ram, meregoat, bull, winged people sitting and kneeling, crab and fish, lion, musical instrument, scales, scorpion, centaur, weapons, jug, water, headgear, eagle
* inscription: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
* Whole Building. Northeast corner, 15th and Walnut.
* 39.949625,-75.165850 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+www.philadelphiabuildings.org's Charles Zeller Klauder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's O.W. Ketcham Terra Cotta Works page

Art Museum North Pediment
Carl Paul Jennewein, 1932 (Museum website says 1933)
* group of people, some standing, some sitting or lying, winged person, headgear, staff, sun, sword, furniture, musical instrument, owl, snake, lion
* North Pediment. Front of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965625,-75.180275 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Carl Paul Jennewein page
+philamuseum.org

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

Port Richmond Firefighters Memorial
2005
* Memorial to Richard F. Devine, William J. Robinson, Rey Rubio, John Taylor and Thomas Vaughan
* black polished etched stone in the shape of the Fire Department emblem, two people kneeling, one winged, one wearing a helmet
* inscription:
Philadelphia Fire Department
Engine Company #28
To honor our firefighters who have lost their lives while protecting and serving the great community of Port Richmond
When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,
give me strength to save some life whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late
or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if ascending to my fate I am to lose my life
please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.
FF Thomas Vaughan
March 13, 1904
FF William J. Robinson
January 15, 1905
FF Richard F. Devine
July 29, 1999
Capt. John Taylor
August 20, 2004
FF Rey Rubio
August 20, 2004
Dedicated August 20, 2005
* In front of Engine Company 28. Southwest side of Ontario between Belgrade and Miller.
* 39.988925,-75.099950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters, Religious
* See also:
+Richard Devine memorial page on angelfire.com
+firemanshallmuseum.org's Engine 28 page