Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net
Artist: Moses Jacob Ezekiel
Religious Liberty
Moses Jacob Ezekiel,
1876
* big
standing
people,
liberty cap,
eagle,
serpent,
flame,
the Constitution
* Was half a block North on 5th. Moved late 2010. The first two pictures are from the current location. The rest are from the previous location.
* inscription:
Plinth:
Dedicated to the people of the United States by the order B'nai B'rith and Israelites of America in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of American Independence.
Plaque:
Commissioned by B'nai B'rith for the United States Centenial, "Religious Liberty" was dedicated in Fairmount Park on Thanksgiving Day in 1876.
Carved in Rome from a single block of carrara marble, the statue was executed by Sir Moses Ezekiel, an American Jewish sculptor.
The monument was rededicated by B'nai B'rith International for this nation's Bicentennial in 1976.
The allegorical group represents liberty protecting religious freedom. The female figure wears the liberty cap bordered by thirteen stars for each of the original American colonies. In her left hand, she holds the constitution of the United States the legal document by which freedom is guaranteed to all citizens.
Religion is personified by a youth standing beside the figure of Liberty, whose outstretched arm extends over him protectively. His right hand reaches toward her, while in his left, he holds the inextinguishable flame of faith.
At the base of the group is an American eagle crushing a serpent in its talons, signifying the triumph of American democracy over the tyranny of intolerance and oppression.
The monument was relocated to Independence Mall and rededicated on May 4, 1986 in an historic joint venture between B'nai B'rith International and the National Museum of American Jewish History.
From this site, the statue proclaims in harmony with the Liberty Bell only steps away, a resounding message of religious liberty for all peoples.
* In front of the National Museum of American Jewish History.
Southeast corner, 5th and Market.
* 39.950350,-75.148825 [map] [nearby]
* On the Independence Mall tour
* Exhibits: Religious,
Moved
* See also:
+Max Buten's first picture of this piece
+Max Buten's second picture of this piece
+Max Buten's third picture of this piece
+National Museum of American Jewish History
Smith Memorial Arch
Herbert Adams,
George E. Bissell,
Alexander Stirling Calder,
Katherine M. Cohen,
Moses Jacob Ezekiel,
Daniel Chester French,
Charles Grafly,
Samuel Murray,
Edward Clark Potter,
John Massey Rhind,
Bessie O. Potter Vonnoh,
John Quincy Adams Ward,
James H. Windrim (Architect),
1897 - 1912
* Statues and busts of James A. Beaver,
Samuel Wylie Crawford,
Andrew Gregg Curtin,
John A. B. Dahlgren,
John B. Gest,
Winfield Scott Hancock,
John Hartranft,
George B. McClellan,
George Gordon Meade,
David Dixon Porter,
John Fulton Reynolds,
Richard Smith
and
James H. Windrim
* big
arches,
standing people,
seated people,
heads,
horses,
eagles,
globe,
weapons,
hats
* Despite the name, the memorial is actually not an arch at all, though it does include two arches. Sculptures on the memorial include Herbert Adams' statue of Richard Smith, who funded the memorial, and Samuel Murray's bust of James H. Windrim, who was the artist and architect of the memorial itself. Detail pictures of the individual pieces are in alphabetical order by subject. One of John Massey Rhind's eagles is pictured last. Dahlgren is listed elsewhere as "Dahlgreen."
* Avenue of the Republic at 41st.
* 39.977450,-75.206500 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+ushistory.org's page for this piece
+philadelphiabuilding.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Herbert Adams page
+wikipedia.org's George E. Bissell page
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Stirling Calder page
+wikipedia.org's Katherine M. Cohen page
+Chesterwood: home of Daniel Chester French
+wikipedia.org's Charles Grafly page
+wikipedia.org's Samuel Murray page
+wikipedia.org's Edward Clark Potter page
+wikipedia.org's John Massey Rhind page
+wikipedia.org Bessie O. Potter Vonnoh page
+wikipedia.org John Quincy Adams Ward page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's James H. Windrim page
+wikipedia.org's James Addams Beaver page
+wikipedia.org's Samuel W. Crawford page
+wikipedia.org's Andrew Gregg Curtin page
+wikipedia.org's John A. Dahlgren page
+wikipedia.org's John B. Gest page
+wikipedia.org's Winfield Scott Hancock page
+wikipedia.org's John Hartranft page
+wikipedia.org's George B. McClellan page
+wikipedia.org's George Meade page
+wikipedia.org's David Dixon Porter page
+wikipedia.org's John F. Reynolds page
+wikipedia.org's James H. Windrim page
Anthony J. Drexel
Moses Jacob Ezekiel,
1904
* Statue of Anthony J. Drexel
* seated person,
chair,
pail,
books and papers
* Originally just East of 33rd. Moved Summer, 2001 to 32nd Street. In 2011 the building it was next to was torn down and the statue was moved closer to Market, rotated, and enclosed in a large box. The box was removed some time in 2013.
The last two pictures are from the first and second locations.
* On the campus of Drexel University.
South side of Market, East of 32nd.
* 39.955100,-75.187525 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of Technology tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1959 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Anthony J. Drexel page
+Drexel University
