Law, Prosperity and Power, (sculpture).

Law, Prosperity and Power, (sculpture).

French, Daniel Chester, 1850-1931, sculptor.

Cret, Paul Philippe, 1876-1945, architect.

McArthur, John, Jr., 1823-1890, architect.

Mullett, Alfred B., 1834-1890, architect.

Law, Prosperity and Power, (sculpture).

1880. Dedicated 1884. Relocated 1938.

Sculpture: marble; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 16 x 17 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.; Base: approx. 2 ft. 6 in. x 16 ft. x 5 ft.

An allegorical figure group consisting of a standing female representing Law flanked on her proper right by a seated male representing Power and on her proper left by a seated female representing Prosperity. The figure of Law strides forward carrying a tablet above her head with both hands. She is wearing chain mail with a long flowing skirt and a cloak which covers her head and hangs down her back. On her proper right is the bare-chested figure of Power wearing a drapery around his waist and leaning forward with his proper left leg extended. On the proper left side of Law is the bare-breasted figure of Prosperity wearing a drapery around her waist and holding a cornucopia in her proper right hand.

Allegory -- Civic -- Law

Allegory -- Quality -- Wealth

Allegory -- Quality -- Authority

Object -- Written Matter

Object -- Other -- Cornucopia

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

Administered by City of Philadelphia, Fairmount Park Commission, Memorial Hall, West Park, P. O. Box 21601, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131

Located Fairmount Park, South George's Hill Drive, North of Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Formerly located United States Post Office, Ninth & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1884-1937.

The sculpture was originally installed at the United States Post Office and Federal Building located on Ninth and Chestnut Streets. John McArthur, Jr. and Alfred B. Mullett were responsible for the design of the United States Post Office and Daniel Chester French was commissioned to create an allegorical representation to illustrate the work which went on within the building. When the Post Office was torn down in 1937, Louis A. Simon, a federal architect, and Henri Marceau of the Fairmount Park Art Association arranged for the sculpture to be given to the City of Philadelphia. Paul Cret was commissioned to devise a site plan and base for the sculpture which was to be installed on George's Hill in Fairmount Park.

The cover sheet for the 1993 SOS! survey notes that the current custodian of the piece is the Fairmount Park Commission and that conservation of the piece is the responsibility of the Fairmount Park Art Association.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

City of Philadelphia, 1973.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 146.

Bach, Penny Balkin, "Public Art in Philadelphia," Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1992, pg. 204.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia survey, 1993.

Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 146.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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