Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Nearby 39.951430,-75.169000

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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

Estuary Gate
Christopher T. Ray, 1979
* plants, turtle, birds, lizard
* Gate. North end of John F. Collins Park. South side of Ranstead, West of 17th.
* 39.951900,-75.169000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+chrisray.com
+Center City District Parks: John F. Collins Park

Chestnut Park Fountain
Christopher Collins, John F. Collins, John R. Collins, Ted Knighton, 1979
* fountain, abstract buildings, turtle, wolf head, bird
* Inside John F. Collins Park. Between Chestnut and Ranstead, West of 17th.
* 39.951900,-75.169050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+picture of the fountain on flickr.com
+collinsstudio.com
+tedknighton.com
+Center City District Parks: John F. Collins Park

Brushstroke Group
Roy Lichtenstein, 1996
* big abstract forms
* West side of 17th North of Chestnut.
* 39.952050,-75.168900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+Roy Lichtenstein Foundation

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

Compass
2000 (very approximate)
* unlabeled compass
* West side of 17th, South of Market.
* 39.952635,-75.168700 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified

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

Belgravia Lion Heads
1902
* small lion heads
* Wall. North side of Chestnut between 18th and 19th.
* 39.951800,-75.170860 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's entry for the building

Solidarity
* idea flag sign
* inscription: Teachers Local 3 AFT AFL-CIO
* Front wall. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. South side of Chestnut between 18th and 19th.
* 39.951660,-75.171100 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+pft.org

1822 Chestnut
1870 (approximate year of building)
* plants, fruit and nuts, birds, crouching person, artist tools
* Entrance. South side of Chestnut, East of 19th.
* 39.951700,-75.171350 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry

1600
Collective Architecture, 2021
* big sign
* Wall. South side of Market, West of 16th.
* 39.952710,-75.167325 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+collectivearchitecture.co

The Presbyterian Ministers Fund for Life Insurance
1951 (possible date of building extension)
* small standing people, hats, baskets
* inscription: He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully
* Above the entrance. North side of Walnut, West of 18th.
* 39.950310,-75.171110 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building

Urns
* small urns, people, standing, sitting, swords and spears
* At the entrances of Rittenhouse Square. South and West of the Southwest corner of 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949975,-75.170950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page

Milord La Chamere
Jean Dubuffet, 1973
* big standing person
* Was on the wall on the North side of the building on Market between 15th and 16th, facing Northwest. Moved some time before November 29, 2019. The first two pictures are from the current location. Visible through the doors when locked.
* Concourse level of the atrium. Centre Square. South side of Market at 15th.
* 39.952100,-75.166200 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, Moved
* See also:
+WestWords blog post about this piece
+wikipedia.org's Jean Dubuffet page
+wikipedia.org's Centre Square page

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

Penn Athletic Club
1925
* small lion heads, standing people, athletic equipment
* West Wall. Northeast corner, 18th and Locust.
* 39.949300,-75.170750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building

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

1835 Market Fountain
1986
* abstract fountain
* Wall. North side of Market, East of 19th.
* 39.953600,-75.170825 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour

Evelyn Taylor Price Sundial
Beatrice Fenton, 1947
* Tribute to Evelyn Taylor Price
* small children standing, plants, sundial
* inscription: A tribute to Evelyn Taylor Price, President, Rittenhouse Square Flower Market Association, 1916-1939, Rittenhouse Square Improvement Association, 1934-1946. Erected by her friends.
* Rittenhouse Square. Near the Southwest corner of 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949735,-75.171420 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1949 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Beatrice Fenton page
+findagrave.com's Evelyn Taylor Price page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page

Under the Clothespin
Emilie Ledieu, Miriam Singer, 2012
* small buildings, buses, car and truck, street lights, trees, bicycle, El
* Under (and references) Clothespin
* Concourse level wall. Centre Square. South side of Market at 15th.
* 39.952250,-75.16570 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Mosaic, Mass Transit
* See also:
+miriamsinger.net
+wikipedia.org's Centre Square 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

Clothespin
Claes Oldenburg, 1976
* big clothespin, abstract standing people
* The sculpture is an elongated version of Brancusi's Kiss.
* Referenced by Under the Clothespin
* Top of the concourse stairs. In front of Centre Square. South side of Market at 15th.
* 39.952400,-75.16570 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Favorites
* See also:
+Travis Truman's picture of this piece
+oldenburgvanbruggen.com
+wikipedia.org's Centre Square page

Giant Frog
Cornelia Van Auken Chapin, 1941
* big frog on a rock
* Between the Northeast entrance and the center of Rittenhouse Square. Southwest from 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949600,-75.171675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Cornelia Van Auken Chapin page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page

Lifelines
Barbara Grygutis, 2006
* big abstract plant forms
* lights up at night
* Underground courtyard. Southeast corner, 16th and JFK.
* 39.953500,-75.166450 [map] [nearby]
* On the JFK North tour
* See also:
+barbaragrygutis.com

Leviathan
Seymour Lipton, 1963
* small abstract form
* Disappeared some time before November 29, 2019. Reappeared some time before June, 2021.
* East side of 16th, North of Market. .
* 39.953225,-75.166075 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Seymour Lipton page

Lion Crushing a Serpent
Antione Louis Barye, 1832
* lion, serpent
* Center of Rittenhouse Square. Southeast of 19th and Walnut.
* 39.949650,-75.172050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1913 picture of this piece
+bronze-gallery.com's Antione Louis Barye page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page

Duck Girl
Paul Manship, 1911
* small standing person, duck, fountain, fish heads
* In the pool at the center of Rittenhouse Square. Southwest from 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949375,-75.171800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Paul Manship page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page

J. William White
R. Tait McKenzie, 1922
* Bas-relief bust of J. William White
* small head, hat, eyeglasses
* inscription:
Surgeon Teacher Author Athlete
1850-1916
Leader in beautifying Rittenhouse Square
1913-1915
* Between the Southeast entrance and the center of Rittenhouse Square. West of 18th, South of Locust.
* 39.949240,-75.171690 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Medical
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's R. Tait McKenzie page
+wikipedia.org's J. William White page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page

Rittenhouse Square Fountain
Paul Philippe Cret, 1913
* small head, turtles, insects, snail, otter?, fountain
* Center of Rittenhouse Square. Southwest from 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949290,-75.171740 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, Mosaic
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Paul Philippe Cret page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square 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

Emancipation Proclamation Fountain
Gerd Utescher, 1964
* In honor of an act by Abraham Lincoln
* standing person, birds
* During a 2002 site renovation this piece was moved and turned and the non-functional fountain basin was taken out. By 2010 it was completely surrounded by trees. The first picture is from the old setting. The second is from the new setting. The third is a detail with trees.
* Courtyard. Bottom of the concourse entrance on the Northwest corner of 15th and Market.
* 39.952850,-75.165450 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Moved, Black Lives, Mass Transit
* See also:
+askart.com's Gerd Utescher page
+wikipedia.org's Abraham Lincoln page

Birds
Kathleen Fruge-Brown, 2014
* big birds
* Bike racks. West side of 15th, North of Market.
* 39.953140,-75.165500 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* See also:
+kathleenfrugebrown.com