Four Periods of Publicity, (sculpture).

Four Periods of Publicity, (sculpture).

Borglum, Gutzon, 1867-1941, sculptor.

Kohn, Estelle Rumbold, sculptor.

Kohn Robert D., architect.

Four Periods of Publicity, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

4 reliefs. Each relief: approx. 10 x 3 ft.; Each base: approx. 3 x 2 1/2 ft.

Four elongated male figures representing the four periods of publicity stand in shallow niches on the facade of the building near the top floor. The first figure, "By Spoken Word," is listening, his head leans down, and is cocked to his proper right; next, "By Written Word," is a monk, looking down resting his chin on his hand and holding a book to his chest; the next figure "is indicative of the potentialities of the newspaper, showing an editor in modern garb," wearing a long coat with a large collar and holding what could be a quill pen and an inkwell; and the last figure, "By Printed Text," is a printer working at his press.

Figure male -- Full length

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Printing

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- New York

Administered by Cedar Management Corporation, 20 Vesey Street, Suite 610, New York, New York 10007

Located 20 Vesey Street, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10007

Formerly located Evening Post Building, 20 Vesey Street, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10007

The building, built in 1906, was formerly known as the Evening Post Building. It was designated a New York City landmark on Nov. 23, 1965. Two of the figures were created by Borglum and two were created by Estelle Rumbold Kohn, wife of the building's architect. Inscription on plaque now missing from the building read: "HERITAGE OF NEW YORK"/EVENING POST BUILDING/DESIGNED BY ROBERT D. KOHN, AND OCCUPIED BY THE NEW YORK EVENING POST FROM 1907 TO 1926. THIS BUILDING IS ONE OF NEW YORK'S RARE EXAMPLES OF "ART NOUVEAU." THE BRONZE-FINISHED, CAST-IRON WINDOW SPANDRELS ARE ORNAMENTED WITH THE MARKS OF FAMOUS PRINTERS OF THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. THE STATUES ON THE 9TH FLOOR, EXECUTED BY GUTZON BORGLUM AND ESTELLE RUMBOLD KOHN, REPRESENT "FOUR PERIODS OF PUBLICITY."/PLAQUE ERECTED 1966 BY/THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST.

For related information see Goldberger, Paul, "The City Observed - New York," New York: Random House, 1979, pg. 12; Goldstone, Harmon H., and Martha Dalrymple, "History Preserved: A Guide to New York City Landmarks and Historic Districts," New York: Simon & Schuster, 1974, pg. 96-97; Stern, Robert A. M., "New York 1900, Metropolitan Architecture and Urbanism," New York: Rizzoli, 1983, pg. 154-155; and Diamonstein, Barbaralee, "The Landmarks of New York," New York: Abrams, 1988, pg. 283. SOS! surveyor noted that quotes in the subject description regarding the symbolism of each figure came from an article in Architect's and Builder's Magazine (Sept. 1907): pg. 569-573. Related information can also be found in Architectural Record (Sept. 1907): pg. 176 and in Architectural Review (Sept. 1908) Architectural Review article includes scale drawings of the building which SOS! volunteer used to estimate the dimensions of the sculptures.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, New York survey, 1993.

Goldstone, Harmon H., and Martha Dalrymple, "History Preserved: A Guide to New York City Landmarks and Historic Districts," New York: Simon & Schuster, 1974, pg. 96-97.

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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