Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net
Year: 1927
Fidelity Mutual Building
Lee Lawrie,
1926 - 1927
* Building renamed in honor of Ruth and Raymond G. 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 Building.
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
Francis Ferdinand Durang (Architect),
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 page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Francis Ferdinand Durang, Sr. page
+wikipedia.org's Felix-Joseph Barbalin page
+wikipedia.org's James A. Ryder page
+wikipedia.org's Burchard Villiger page
+sju.edu
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:
+freelibrary.org's Central Library page
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.edu
+philadelphiabuilding.org's page 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
Pineapple
Rankin and Kellog (Architects),
1927
* pineapple
* Over the entrance.
South side of Chestnut, just East of 17th.
* 39.951370,-75.168595 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Rankin and Kellog page
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
