Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Nearby 39.949650,-75.167150

List View | Map View

Silas Weir Mitchell
R. Tait McKenzie, 1928 (also possibly 1915-1917)
* Bas-relief bust of Silas Weir Mitchell
* small head
* I could not find a date on the piece itself. The building is listed as being built in 1928. The McKenzie catalog lists a Silas Weir Mitchell relief bust "1915, 1917" and it's not clear whether that's an indication of a range or two different pieces.
* inscription:
On this spot stood
the house of
S. Weir Mitchell
Physician - Physiologist
Poet - Man of Letters
He taught us the use of rest for the nervous
He created "Hugh Wynne"
He pictured for us "The Red City" in which
he lived and labored from 1829 until 1914
Erected by the Franklin Inn of which he was the first president
* Wall. 1524 Walnut.
* 39.949650,-75.167150 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Medical
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's R. Tait McKenzie page
+whonamedit.com's Silas Weir Mitchell page

First National Bank Building
1928 (original building date)
* big and small birds, seated people, dog head, lion head, snakes, zodiac signs
* Zodiac signs and dog's head are behind the 15th street entrance awning.
* Whole Building. Southwest corner, 15th and Walnut.
* 39.949500,-75.166040 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles, Unidentified
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building

Drexel Building
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

E.W. Clark Building Medallions
1928
* small winged horse, birds, bull, corn
* Walls. Northeast corner, 16th and Locust.
* 39.948650,-75.167675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building

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
+Saint Mark's Church

Saint Mark's Gargoyles
1851
* small heads with headgear
* Walls. Saint Mark's Church. North side of Locust between 16th and 17th.
* 39.948825,-75.168350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Gargoyles
* See also:
+Saint Mark's Church

Tiffany Atlas Clock
Henry Frederick Metzler, 1853 (date of NYC original)
* statue of Atlas
* standing person, clock (sign)
* Was on the South side of Walnut between Broad and 15th. Tiffany moved three blocks West in late 2021 or early 2022 but does not appear to have reinstalled the Atlas Clock as of 1/18/2022.
* Above the entrance. Tiffany and Co..
* 39.949385,-75.165200 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing
* See also:
+tiffany.com history page
+daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com with particulars of the history of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Atlas page

Saint Mark's Entrance
Samuel Yellin, 1923
* Statue of Jesus
* people standing, halos and cross
* inscription: Come unto me all that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
* Entrance. Saint Mark's Church. North side of Locust between 16th and 17th.
* 39.948775,-75.168500 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for this building.
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+Samuel Yellin Metal Workers
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+Saint Mark's Church

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

Packard Building Sign
Samuel Yellin, 1924 (year on sign)
* small standing, kneeling people, tools, scroll, staff, oar, plants, lamps, eagle, lion's head, seashell, urns, griffins, sign
* Yellin is not listed anywhere as the artist for the sign, but he is listed as the metal worker for the building
* West Entrance. Packard Building. East side of 15th, South of Chestnut.
* 39.950650,-75.165650 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+Samuel Yellin Metal Workers
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Packard Building entry

Golden Fleece Logo
* small sheep, ribbon, Brooks Brothers Logo
* There used to be a Brooks Brothers at this location
* inscription: Established 1818
* East Entrance. West side of 15th between Chestnut and Sansom.
* 39.950775,-75.165700 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+wikipedia.org's Order of the Golden Fleece page
+brooksbrothers.com Golden Fleece Logo page

First Baptist
Edgar Viguers Seeler (Architect), 1899
* dove, olive branch, hand
* Over the door. First Baptist. Southeast corner 17th and Sansom.
* 39.950540,-75.168875 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for Edgar Viguers Seeler
+firstbaptistphiladelphia.org

Gate and Gargoyles
Samuel Yellin, 1912
* small dragon head, abstract gate
* there are identical gargoyles on either side of the gate
* Gate (and gargoyles). South side of Latimer, West of 16th.
* 39.948150,-75.168350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+Samuel Yellin Metal Workers

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

Spirit of '61
Henry Kirke Bush-Brown, 1911
* standing person, hat, rifle
* inscription:
First Regiment Infantry National Guard of Pennsylvania
(Gray Reserves)
1861 - April 19 - 1911
* In front of the Union League. Southwest corner, Broad and Sansom.
* 39.949800,-75.164400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1957 picture of the Union League with this piece visible
+wikipedia.org's Henry Kirke Bush-Brown page
+The Union League

Packard Building Gates
Samuel Yellin, 1923
* flowers
* Gates. Packard Building. Southeast corner, 15th and Chestnut.
* 39.950950,-75.165360 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+Samuel Yellin Metal Workers
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Packard Building entry

Washington Grays Monument
John A. Wilson, 1908
* Portrait on soldier's hat of George Washington
* standing person wearing a hat, rifle
* The base was created by Joseph Wilson in 1872
* inscription: To Our Fallen Comrades 1861-1865
* In front of the Union League. Southwest corner, Broad and Sansom.
* 39.950060,-75.164350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, War
* See also:
+Max Buten's page for this piece
+wikipedia.org page for this piece
+wikipedia.org's John A. Wilson page
+wikipedia.org's George Washington page
+The Union League

Fidelity Bank Building
1928
* reclining people, heads, standing people, headgear, hammer, artists tools, quill and scroll, dragons, ship, weapons, lion, tree, donkey, sun, sundial
* inscription:
Libertas Americana, 4 Juil 1776
Non sine diis animosusinians 17 Oct. 1777 - 19 Oct. 1781
Fugio. 1787, Mind your business
Value me as you please
Masathusets
* Whole building. East side of Broad between Sansom and Walnut.
* 39.949675,-75.163925 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building

Warwick Hotel
1925
* small crest, helmet, urn with standing people, goat heads, lion heads, human heads, winged people, birds
* Walls. West side of 17th, North of Locust and North side of Locust, West of 17th.
* 39.948940,-75.169800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building

Bellevue Lions
1989 (approximate)
* small lions holding shields
* Gateposts. Bellevue. West side of Broad between Walnut and Locust.
* 39.948750,-75.164605 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Bellevue-Stratford Hotel page

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

Wissahickon Valley Gate
Christopher T. Ray, 1979
* plants, owl, insect
* Gate. South end of John F. Collins Park. North side of Chestnut, West of 17th.
* 39.951600,-75.169100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+chrisray.com
+Center City District Parks: John F. Collins Park

The Triune
Robert Engman, 1975
* abstract form
* The first picture was taken facing West, probably after the Meridian fire. The second picture was taken in April, 2010, facing Southeast with City Hall relected in the glass of the new building.
* East side of 15th between Market and Chestnut.
* 39.951800,-75.165325 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Robert Engman page

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 Institute
+philadelphiabuilding.org's listing for the building

Curtis Institute Gate
Samuel Yellin, 1924
* plants
* Gate. Curtis Institute. South side of Locust, East of 18th.
* 39.948880,-75.170500 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.orgs's Samuel Yellin page
+Samuel Yellin Metal Workers
+Curtis Institute
+philadelphiabuilding.org's listing for the building

Ritz Carlton Residence Fountain
2009
* abstract fountain
* visible through the fence
* Wall. South side of S. Penn Square, West of Broad.
* 39.951325,-75.164650 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour

Drexel Mansion Windows
1893 (original date of building)
* small fruit, cornucopias, plants, birds
* Both sides of the entrance. Curtis Institute. South side of Locust, East of 18th.
* 39.948900,-75.170635 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+Curtis Institute
+philadelphiabuilding.org's listing for the building

Girard Trust Building
1931
* relief busts of Stephen Girard
* big head, ships, lion head
* inscription: Girard Trust Company, Incorporated 1836
* North and East sides. Ritz Carlton. West side of Broad, North of Chestnut.
* 39.951150,-75.164100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Avenue of the Arts tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building
+ushistory.org's Stephen Girard page

One Meridian Plaza Fire Memorial
2009
* Memorial to James A. Chappell, David P. Holcombe and Phyllis McAllister
* small firefighter helmets
* inscription:
To sacrifice one's own safety
in the service of others
requires a courage that is rare.
Those among us who do
are true heroes.
* South side of S. Penn Square, West of Broad.
* 39.951565,-75.164500 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters, Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's One Meridian Plaza page
+findagrave.com's James A. Chappell page
+findagrave.com's David P. Holcombe page
+findagrave.com's Phyllis McAllister page

A Quest for Parity: The Octavius V. Catto Memorial
Branly Cadet, 2017
* Memorial to and statue of Octavius Catto
* big and small standing person, ideas, cube and mirrored orb, steles representing a streetcar and a representational streetcar, buildings, plants, horse, clouds, groups of people, some sitting, hats, guns, baseball equipment
* inscription:
South side of steles, North side of cube:
There must come a change which will force upon this nation that course which providence seems wisely to be directing for the mutual benefit of all peoples.
West side of steles, West side of cube:
Educator Leader Major Athlete Activist
South side of cube: October 10, 1871
East side of cube:
XV
Amendment to the United States Constitution
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
North side of steles:
1839 Born February 22 in Charleston, South Carolina
1854 Becomes a student at the Philadelphia Institute for Colored Youth
1858 Graduates from the Institute for Colored Youth
1859 Chosen as a member and recording secretary of the Banneker Institute, an all black literary society led by Jacob White, Jr. Hired as an English and mathematics teacher at his alma mater. Campaign to desegregate the horse-drawn streetcars in Philadelphia begins.
1863 becomes a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Helps lead a civil war recruitment committee with Frederick Douglas, members of the Union League, and others, which raises eleven regiments of black troops who trained at Camp William Penn in Cheltenham.
1864 Named corresponding secretary of the Pennsylvania Equal Rights League, an affiliate of the National Equal Rights League. Appointed Vice President of the State Convention of Colored People held in Harrisburg. Led civil disobedience protests and lobbied white legislators in Harrisburg to desegregate streetcars.
1865 Co-authored the state Equal Rights League call for voting rights, streetcar desegregation, and the hiring of black teachers for black students in public schools.
1867 Governor signs statewide "Bill of Rights" law desegregating streetcars. Led the Pythians Base Ball Club of Philadelphia to an undefeated season.
1869 Named principal of male students at the Institute for Colored Youth Pythians play the Olympic Ball Club in Philadelphia in the first match between black and white teams. A leader of the unsuccessful effort to integrate the private City Wide Congress of Literary Societies. Helps lead successful Pennsylvania campaign to pass the 15th Amendment which led to thousands of black men registering to vote.
1870 The Union League presents Octavius Catto, Frederick Douglas, and Robert Purvis with a banner celebrating Pennsylvania's adoption of the 15th Amendment at a ceremony on Broad Street. Writes curriculum for new schools for freed former slaves in the District of Columbia. Becomes a member of the original Franklin Institute breaking the color line at the prestigious national forum for advancing American science and technology.
1871 Named an Inspector General with the rank of Major in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Shot to death on October 10, on South Street in the midst of election day riots. He was 32, and one of many black men shot or attacked that day by opponents of the 15th Amendment. As one of Philadelphia's most influential leaders, more than 5,000 mourners attended his funeral and procession down Broad Street.
* South side of City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951775,-75.164100 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, War, Black Lives, Mass Transit
* See also:
+branlycadet.com
+wikipedia.org's Octavius Catto page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Faces
John Torrey Windrim (Architect), 1893 (approximate year of building)
* small heads, plants
* Both sides of the front door. North side of Spruce, East of 18th.
* 39.947760,-75.170490 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: New, Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's John Torrey Windrim page

Continental Olive
2005
* big olive sign
* Wall. Northwest corner, 18th and Chestnut.
* 39.951750,-75.170450 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour

Swedish Settlements Plaque
1909
* Lists Anders Svensson Bonde, Johan Campanius, Peter Larsson Cock, Anders Larson Dalbo, Mans Nilsson Kling, Joran Kyn, Peter Lindstrom, Peter Minuit, Johan Printz, Peter Gunnarsson Rambo, Peter Hollander Ridder, Johan Risingh, Captain Sven Skute and Olof Persson Stille
* small symbols, lions, crowns, tree
* Many of the names and spellings on this plaque do not match other sources
* inscription:
In commemoration of The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware 1638-1655
New Sweden embraced within its boundaries the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and included lands on the West side of the Delaware from Cape Henlopen to Trenton Falls and on the East side from Cape May to Mantua Creek
Swedish Governors Peter Minuit, Peter Hollender, Johan Printz, Johan Risingh
Swedish Sovereignty passed by capture to the Dutch, 1655
Among the prominent Swedish settlers were Mans Kling, Sven Schute, Johan Campanius, Joran Kyn, Olof Stille, Peter Cock, Anders Dalbo, Peter Lindhstrom, Anders Bonde, Peter Rambo
Erected by The Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1909
* Wall. South side of City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951735,-75.163725 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+geni.com's Anders Svensson Bonde page
+wikipedia.org's Johan Campanius page
+findagrave.com's Peter Larsson Cock page
+geni.com's Anders Larson Dalbo page
+wikipedia.org's Mans Nilsson Kling page
+rootsweb.com Joran Kyn article
+wikipedia.org's Upland, Pennsylvania page mentions Peter Lindstrom
+wikipedia.org's Peter Minuit page
+wikipedia.org's Johan Printz page
+wikipedia.org's Peter Gunnarsson Rambo page
+wikipedia.org's Peter Hollander Ridder page
+wikipedia.org's Johan Risingh page
+drphysick.com's Sven Skute page
+wikipedia.org's Olof Persson Stille page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Dutch Settlements Plaque
1909
* Mentions King Charles II, Willem Kieft, Cornelis Jacobsen Mey, Peter Minuit, William Penn, Peter Stuyvesent, Adrian Jorisszen Tienpont, Wouter Van Twiller and Willem Verhulst
* small symbols, beaver, flowers, crowns
* inscription:
In commemoration of the Dutch settlements on the Delaware 1623-1664
The territory occupied by the West India Company and known as New Netherland extended from the Capes of the Delaware to the Connecticut River and embraced within its boundaries the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Directors General of the West India Company Adriaen Jorissen Tienpont, Cornelis Jacobsen Mey, Willem Verhulst, Peter Minuit, Wouter Van Twiller, Willem Kieft, Peter Stuyvesent
Chronolgy New Netherland Captured by the English 1664. Recaptured by the Dutch 1673. Ceded to the English 1674. Charter granted by King Charles II to William Penn for the territory since known as Pennsylvania March 4, 1681
The Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1909
* Wall. South side of City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951740,-75.163650 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's King Charles II page
+wikipedia.org's Willem Kieft page
+wikipedia.org's Cornelis Jacobsen Mey page
+wikipedia.org's Peter Minuit page
+wikipedia.org's William Penn page
+wikipedia.org's Peter Stuyvesent page
+wikipedia.org's Adrian Jorisszen Tienpont page
+wikipedia.org's Wouter Van Twiller page
+wikipedia.org's Willem Verhulst page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

City Hall, South Pavilion
Alexander Milne Calder, 1873 - 1893
* standing people, sitting people, heads, birds, dragons, book and scrolls, staff, cats, seal of Pennsylvania, horses, ship, plow, plants, bison head, squirrel, headgear
* Part of the whole building's art. City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951825,-75.163650 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Alexander Milne Calder page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page