Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Landmark: Art Museum

The Mounted Amazon Attacked by a Panther
August Kiss, 1839 (cast 1929)
* seated person, horse, cat, spear
* also listed as "Amazon"
* At the foot of the steps of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.964950,-75.179650 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's August Kiss page

The Lion Fighter
Albert Wolff, 1858 (cast 1892, installed 1929)
* seated person, spear, horse, lion
* At the foot of the steps of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.964575,-75.180100 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Albert Wolff page

Chief Justice John Marshall
William Wetmore Story, 1883
* Statue of John Marshall
* seated person, chair
* inscription: Chief Justice of the United States 1801-1835. As soldier he fought that the nation might come into being. As expounder of the Constitution he gave it length of days.
* On a traffic island behind the Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966200,-75.181800 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's William Wetmore Story page
+wikipedia.org's John Marshall page

Stephen Girard
John Massey Rhind, 1897
* Statue of Stephen Girard
* standing person, groups of people, hats, buildings, ship, anchor, plants, barrels, rope, parasol
* inscription:
front:
1750-1831
Mariner and Merchant
back:
Philadelphia's greatest philanthropist
Erected by the alumni of Girard College and the people of this city and commonwealth, 1897
* Behind the Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966350,-75.182350 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1912 picture of this piece outside City Hall
+wikipedia.org's John Massey Rhind page
+wikipedia.org's Stephen Girard page

Major General Peter Muhlenberg
J. Otto Schweizer, 1910
* Statue of John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg
* standing person, group of people, church interior, pulpit and pews, book, hat
* inscription:
front:
"There is a time for all things - a time to preach and a time to fight, and now is the to fight"
Farewell sermon in the church at Woodstock, VA, 1776
right:
1776, Charleston, Sullivans Island, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, Petersburg, Yorktown, 1781
left:
Member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, 1784
Vice President of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1785
Member of the first, third, and sixth Congress of the U.S.
U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1801
President of the German Society of Pennsylvania, 1788 and 1802-1807
* Behind the Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966600,-75.181950 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Moved, War
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1913 picture of this piece outside City Hall
+wikipedia.org's J. Otto Schweizer page
+wikipedia.org's John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg page

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]
* 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

Art Museum North Faces
Julian Abele (Architect), 1928
* faces, crowns
* There are two faces on the North side of the Museum. The first is over a large empty niche where Anne d'Haroncourt Drive meets 25th and Kelly. The next is over the North entrance just up the hill.
* Walls. North side of the Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive (25th and Kelly Drive to the Spring Garden Bridge).
* 39.966200,-75.180150 [map] [nearby]
* 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

Art Museum Roof Ornaments
Julian Abele (Architect), 1928
* griffins (museum logo, after the fact), gazelles, plants
* Best seen on top of the South pediment.
* Around the roof. Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965000,-75.181015 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Favorites
* 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

Art Museum Steps Fountain
Julian Abele (Architect), 1928
* fountain, fish
* Along the front steps. Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.964950,-75.180100 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Favorites
* 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

Art Museum Student Entrance Face
Julian Abele (Architect), 1928
* face, crown
* Above the student entrance. Art Museum. Anne d'Harnocourt Drive at the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965150,-75.182050 [map] [nearby]
* 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

General Anthony Wayne
John Gregory, 1937
* Statue of Anthony Wayne
* seated person, horse, sword, hat
* In front of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.964750,-75.180950 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's John Gregory page
+wikipedia.org's Anthony Wayne page

Prometheus Strangling the Vulture
Jacques Lipchitz, 1944 (cast 1953)
* standing person, vulture
* Front steps. Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965585,-75.180960 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Jacque Lipchitz page

Courtship
Henry Mitchell, 1958
* Memorial to Henry M. Phillips
* horses, fountain
* Plaza. Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965325,-75.180600 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org picture of this piece
+cantonartcollection.com's Henry Mitchell bio
+wikipedia.org's Henry Myer Phillips page

Charioteer of Delphi
Nikos Kerlis, Theodora Papayannis, 1977 (cast from the 5th Century BC original)
* small standing person
* original artist unknown
* inscription:
From the cradle of democracy in the ancient world to the cradle of democracy in the new world. From the people of Greece to the people of America.
* East side of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965400,-75.179275 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece

Rocky
A. Thomas Schomberg, 1980
* Statue of Rocky Balboa
* standing person, boxing gear
* This statue has had several homes, including the top of the Art Museum steps (twice), the Spectrum steps, and the Northeast of the front of the Museum. It was moved back to the original and current location June, 2026. The first picture is from the current location. The second is from the previous location. The third picture is from the Spectrum.
* Replaced at the previous location by the Joe Frazier Monument
* Top of the steps. Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965115,-75.180325 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic, Favorites, Moved
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+schombergstudios.com
+wikipedia.org's Rocky Balboa page

Rocky Footprints
1993 (approximate)
* In honor of Rocky Balboa
* small symbolic footprints
* Top of the steps. Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965125,-75.180320 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Rocky Balboa page

Joe Frazier Monument
Stephen Layne, 2015
* Statue of Joe Frazier
* standing person, boxing gloves
* Also listed on the artist's site as the "Smokin' Joe" Frazier Monument and Smoking Joe Frazier's Monument. The Public Art Association simply lists it as Joe Frazier. Originally installed in front of Xfinity Live at the Southwest corner of 11th and Pattison. Moved to the current location June, 2026. The last 3 pictures are from the current location, including the infographic banner referencing Rocky.
* Replaced the moved Rocky
* inscription: (banners on the fence, 2026)
WORKING CLASS ROOTS
FROM THE MEATPACKING FLOOR...
TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD
Before championship belts and sold-out arenas, Joe Frazier worked in a Philadelphia meatpacking plant and trained by punching sides of beef.
OLYMPIC GOLD
BEFORE HE WAS CHAMPION...
HE WON OLYMPIC GOLD.
Before becoming World Heavyweight Champion, Joe Frazier captured the heavyweight gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and brought glory home to the United States.
THESE STEPS.
JOE FRAZIER TRAINED HERE...
AND HE INSPIRED THE ROCKY CHARACTER
Smokin' Joe regularly ran the Art Museum steps as part of his training routine. His real-life discipline, grit, and work ethic embodied Philadelphia's fighting spirit, and inspired the Rocky movie character known around the world.
THE LEFT HOOK
DESPITE A PHYSICAL DISADVANTAGE, HE TURNED IT INTO A WEAPON.
A childhood injury left Joe Frazier with limited use of his left arm. Through relentless training, he transformed it into one of the most devastating left hooks in boxing history.
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
THE MAN WHO FLOORED ALI... JOE DID IT FIRST
In the legendary 1971 "Fight of the Century," Joe Frazier knocked down Muhammad Ali and handed him the first professional loss of his career".
A CHAMPION'S LEGACY
CHAMPION INSIDE THE RING
CHAMPION OUTSIDE THE RING
Joe Frazier remains only one of a few athletes ever to be awarded the prestigious John Wanamaker Athletic Award TWICE in 1968 and 1971 as Philadelphia's Athlete of the Year.
Wanting to be remembered as "one of God's men," Smokin' Joe Frazier was more than a heavyweight champion. He was a role model, a leader, and a man of the people.
* East side of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965125,-75.179300 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic, Moved, Black Lives
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+stephenlaynestudio.com
+wikipedia.org's Joe Frazier page

Landmark: Art Museum

See Also