Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Nearby 39.946069,-75.151677

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600 S. Washington Square Gates
Samuel Yellin, 1925
* abstract ironwork
* Gate. South Wasthington Square, West of 6th.
* 39.946069,-75.151677 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+samuelyellin.com

Total Environment
Barbara Neijna, 1986
* big abstract arches, spires
* Plaza. East side of 6th, South of Walnut.
* 39.946125,-75.151000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's Barbara Neijna page

Mary
* statue of Mary
* small standing person, head covering, crucifix, rose
* Visible through a gate at the other end of an alley
* Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church. North side of Spruce, West of 6th.
* 39.945650,-75.152025 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page

Lion Head Trough
1869 (relocated 1916)
* drinking fountain, lion head
* South side of Washington Square. 7th South of Locust.
* 39.946250,-75.152500 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page
+nps.gov's Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square (449 page pdf)

Washington Square Prisoners of War Memorial
1900
* rock
* inscription:
In memory of the many American soldiers, who, during the War for Independence, died prisoners of war in the jails of Philadlelphia, and were buried in this ground during the years 1777 and 1778. Erected by Quaker City Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, October 1900
* East side of Washington Square. Southwest of 6th and Walnut.
* 39.947400,-75.151550 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists, War
* See also:
+Wally Gobetz's picture of this piece at flickr.com
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page
+nps.gov's Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square (449 page pdf)

Tom Foglietta
Zenos Frudakis, 2000
* Bas-relief bust of Thomas Foglietta
* small head and upper torso
* inscription:
City Councilman
Citizen of Philadelphia
Ambassador to Italy
Congressman
Champion of Historic Preservation
* Northeast of the center of Washington Square. Southwest of 6th and Walnut.
* 39.947250,-75.152000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+zenosfrudakis.com
+wikipedia.org's Thomas M. Foglietta page
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page
+nps.gov's Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square (449 page pdf)

Washington Square Fountain
George Edwin Brumbaugh (Architect), 1957
* fountain
* Center of Washington Square. South of 7th and Walnut.
* 39.947050,-75.152310 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+Art Commission 1959 picture of this piece at phillyhistory.org
+findagrave.com's George Edwin Brumbaugh page
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page
+nps.gov's Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square (449 page pdf)

St. Mary's School Sign
1970 (year of the building)
* sign, school logo, symbolic heart, rose, book
* In the school logo the book under the heart is more pronounced
* West wall. Saint Mary Interparochial School. East side of 5th, South of Locust.
* 39.945960,-75.149725 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists, Mosaic
* See also:
+saintmarys.us

Arabesque and Layout
Cathy Hopkins, 1985
* small vertical people
* Behind an awning
* Wall. West side of 5th, South of Locust.
* 39.945675,-75.149975 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+inquirer.com's Cathy Hopkins obituary

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
George Edwin Brumbaugh (Architect), Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1957 (original marble statue 1792)
* Statue of George Washington
* standing person, cane
* The statue of Washington is copied from the original marble by Houdon in the state capitol at Richmond by special permission of the General Assembly of Virginia. An eternal flame in front of the tomb, and the flags of the 13 original colonies fly along the walk leading up to it.
* inscription:
wall:
Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.
In unmarked graves within this square lie thousands of unknown soldiers of Washington's army who died of wounds and sickness during the revolutionary war.
The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and success.
- Washington's farewell address, Sept. 17, 1796.
statue:
In memory of John Mclheiny
tomb:
Under this stone rests a soldier of Washington's Army who died to give you liberty
plaque:
The eternal flame dedicated in 1976 by Continental Bank in memory of those who fought and gave their lives that we might celebrate our 200th anniversary as a free people.
* Tomb. West side of Washington Square. South of 7th and Walnut.
* 39.947100,-75.152750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's page for this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for the statue
+findagrave.com's George Edwin Brumbaugh page
+wikipedia.org's Jean-Antoine Houdon page
+wikipedia.org's George Washington page
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page
+nps.gov's Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square (449 page pdf)

St. Mary's School Doors
1970
* Partial representations of John Adams, John Carroll, Katherine Drexel, Michael Francis Egan, Robert Harding and George Washington
* small partial people, hats, staff, ship, weapons, crosses
* Visible through the gate. Designed to echo the stained glass doors. The reference to Katherine Drexel is from the school's website.
* North entrance. Saint Mary Interparochial School. South side of Locust, East of 5th.
* 39.946080,-75.149510 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified Artists, War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Adams page
+wikipedia.org's John Carroll page
+wikipedia.org's Katherine Drexel page
+wikipedia.org's Michael Francis Egan page
+jstor.org article about Robert Harding
+wikipedia.org's George Washington page
+saintmarys.us

Farm Journal Building Entrance
Bunting and Shrigley (Architects), 1912
* cornucopia, food
* Entrance. West side of 7th, South of Locust.
* 39.946375,-75.153550 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Bunting and Shrigley page

Mary
* statue of Mary
* small standing person, head covered, rocks
* Visible through the gate
* Cemetery, Old St. Mary's. East side of 5th, South of Locust.
* 39.945800,-75.149665 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+oldstmary.com
+wikipedia.org's St. Mary's page

William Penn
Edgar Viguers Seeler (Architect), 1914
* Relief portrait of William Penn
* head, hat
* Above the entrance. Penn Mutual Building. South side of Walnut, East of 6th.
* 39.947595,-75.150870 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Edgar Viguers Seeler page
+wikipedia.org's William Penn page
+wikipedia.org's Penn Mutual page

Light Fixtures
Gerald Allen, Kent Bloomer, 1984
* abstract flower-like light fixtures
* Entrance. South side of Locust, West of 7th.
* 39.946785,-75.153700 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+bloomerstudio.com

Penn Mutual Building Doors
Robert Warren Noble (Architect), 1931
* small groups of people standing, sitting, machines and tools, furniture, baskets and jugs, books and scrolls, dogs, flowers, weapons, helmet, head in profile
* Entrance. Penn Mutual Building. South side of Walnut between 5th and 6th.
* 39.947525,-75.150250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Robert Warren Noble page
+wikipedia.org's Penn Mutual page

Bas Reliefs
Charles Wallis, 1973
* abstract forms
* The metal is missing on one of the four reliefs.
* Walls. Cypress and Delancey, West of 5th.
* 39.944450,-75.150400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour

N.W. Ayer Building
Ralph Bowden Bencker (Architect), J. Wallace Kelly, Raphael Sabatini, 1929
* big and small standing people, seated people, partial people, groups of people, furniture, sun, swords, books, publishing equipment, implications of building interiors, zodiac signs, ram, crab, centaur
* There are two large figures on each of the four corners of the building that are best seen from a block away.
* Doors and upper walls. 210 West Washington Square (West side of 7th, South of Walnut).
* 39.947250,-75.153400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Ralph Bowden Bencker page
+michenermuseum.org's J. Wallace Kelly Page
+askart.com's Raphael Sabatini page

743 Spruce Gates
Elizabeth Osborne, 1978
* abstract ironwork
* The Smithsonian lists Elizabeth Osborne (1936-) as the sculptor of these gates. I am assuming this was a one off of the Philadelphia painter Elizabeth Osborne, born 1936, but she is nowhere else listed as a sculptor.
* Gates. Pennsylvania Hospital. East side of 8th, North of Spruce and South side of Manning, East of 8th.
* 39.946150,-75.154500 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Elizabeth Osborne page
+pennmedicine.org's Pennsylvania Hospital page

A Part / Apart
James Fuhrman, 2008
* abstract representation of an idea
* The inscription is on the bands between the panels, which had not yet been installed when the first picture was taken
* inscription:
A Part and Apart
One Person, One House, One Block
One City
So Many People
So Much To Learn
So Much To Unlearn
6,000 Million
Connected / Separate
* Wall. West side of 7th, South of Delancey.
* 39.944660,-75.153490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+jfuhrman.com

Greek Revival Fence
John Haviland (Architect), 1822
* Faces of Dionysus
* small faces, abstract ironwork
* Gate and fence. Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral. West side of 8th between Spruce and Locust.
* 39.946300,-75.154725 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org article which mentions the building
+wikipedia.org's John Haviland page
+wikipedia.org's Dionysus page
+saintgeorgecathedral.org

Barry Memorial
1913
* Memorial to John Barry
* anchor, rope, plants, cross
* inscription:
In memory of John Barry, father of the American Navy, born in Co. Wexford, Ireland, March 25, 1745.
First captain of the first ship owned by the Continental Congress. Continuous in his service during the entire period of the revolution. Supreme Commander of the entire naval forces of the colonies in the war for independence. Appointed by President Washington to the highest rank and first command of the navy of the United States. He died in Philadelphia September 3, 1803, and is buried in the adjoining churchyard. Requiscat in pace.
* On the wall. Old St. Mary's. West side of 4th Street South of Locust.
* 39.945700,-75.148325 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified Artists, War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's John Barry page
+oldstmary.com
+wikipedia.org's St. Mary's page

Kangaroos
Harold Kimmelman, 1970 (installed 1972)
* kangaroos
* Lawrence Court, running from Spruce to Cypress between 4th and 5th.
* 39.944625,-75.149300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* See also:
+artist's page for this piece
+associationforpublicart.org's page for this piece
+hksculpt.com

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
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Athena page
+wikipedia.org's Hermes page

Old St. Mary's Bench
* small standing people, sitting and kneeling people, sports equipment, tools, water, plants, horse, horn, fish, umbrella, hats
* Medallions are set into the curved brick back of the bench.
* Just South of Old St. Mary's. West side of 4th, South of Locust.
* 39.945375,-75.148475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Unidentified Artists, Black Lives
* See also:
+oldstmary.com
+wikipedia.org's St. Mary's page

Major
Charles Fahlen, 1982
* stacked abstract forms
* Northwest corner, 8th and Locust.
* 39.947075,-75.154575 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+charlesfahlen.com

Green Man
Joseph A. Praissman (Architect), 1967
* face, plants
* Some time between 1967 and 1987 this piece was painted white, and some time between 1999 and 2021 most of the white paint was removed. The first two pictures are from December, 2021. The third picture is with the white paint. I do not know whether the teeth and the whites of the eyes were originally white or not. Whether it meets the technical definition of a Green Man is left as an exercise for the reader.
* Wall. East side of 7th between Pine and Addison.
* 39.943900,-75.153450 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+wikipedia.org's Green Man article
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Joseph A. Praissman page

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
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's entry for the coat of arms
+wikipedia.org's Saint George page

Robert Morris
Paul Wayland Bartlett, 1925
* Statue of Robert Morris
* standing person, hat, cane, papers
* inscription: Patriot, Statesman, Financier, 1734-1806
* North side of Walnut between 4th and 5th.
* 39.947700,-75.148600 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org picture of this piece, probably from in front of the Second Bank
+wikipedia.org's Paul Wayland Bartlett page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Morris page

Apollo
1870 (approximate date of casting)
* Statue of Apollo
* small standing person, headgear, plant
* reportedly a bronze reproduction of a Pompeian sculpture on loan from the Penn Museum
* Visible through the gate on the South side of the Hill Physick Keith House. North side of Delancey, East of 4th.
* 39.944100,-75.148300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Apollo page
+ushistory.org entry for the Hill Physick Keith House

Fence
* dogs, cat, mouse, bone, plants, birdhouse
* Fence. South side of Delancey, East of 4th.
* 39.944025,-75.148300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified Artists