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Lawrie, Lee Oskar,
Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor,
Alexander, Hartley Burr,
Ardolino, Edward,
Winslow, Carlton M.,
Architecture -- Civic
Architecture -- Civic
Allegory -- Quality
Allegory -- Other
Portrait male -- Unidentified
Religion -- Saint
Portrait male -- Plato
Portrait male -- Alighieri, Dante
Portrait male -- Homer
Portrait male -- Milton, John
Portrait male -- Shakespeare, William
Portrait male -- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
Portrait male -- Herodotus
Portrait male -- Virgil
Portrait male -- Socrates
Portrait male -- Justinian
Portrait male -- Leonardo da Vinci
Portrait male -- Copernicus, Nicolaus
Mythology -- Classical
Mythology -- Classical
Mythology -- Classical
Mythology -- Classical
Allegory -- Element
Religion -- Old Testament
Literature -- Carroll
Literature -- Perrault
Literature -- Unknown
Literature -- Malory
Literature -- Character
Architectural component
Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Los Angeles
Sculpture
Meaning and Purpose of Library, (sculpture).
Artist:
Lawrie, Lee Oskar, 1877-1963, sculptor.
Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor, 1869-1924, architect.
Alexander, Hartley Burr, 1873-1939, assistant.
Ardolino, Edward, carver.
Winslow, Carlton M., 1876-1946, architect.
Title:
Meaning and Purpose of Library, (sculpture).
Dates:
1924-1926.
Digital Reference:
Medium:
Limestone.
Description:
Numerous works of ornamental sculpture on the exterior of the Los Angeles Central Library. Includes figurative buttresses depicting past scholars, philosophers and writers in many disciplines, relief panels featuring classical themes and scenes from children's literature, scrolls, allegorical figures and topped by a hand holding a torch.
Subject:
Architecture -- Civic -- Library
Architecture -- Civic -- Los Angeles Central Library
Allegory -- Quality -- Prudence
Allegory -- Other -- Civilization
Portrait male -- Unidentified -- David
Religion -- Saint -- St. John
Portrait male -- Plato -- Full length
Portrait male -- Alighieri, Dante -- Full length
Portrait male -- Homer -- Full length
Portrait male -- Milton, John -- Full length
Portrait male -- Shakespeare, William -- Full length
Portrait male -- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von -- Full length
Portrait male -- Herodotus -- Full length
Portrait male -- Virgil -- Full length
Portrait male -- Socrates -- Full length
Portrait male -- Justinian -- Full Length
Portrait male -- Leonardo da Vinci -- Full length
Portrait male -- Copernicus, Nicolaus -- Full length
Mythology -- Classical -- Hesper
Mythology -- Classical -- Phospher
Mythology -- Classical -- Hercules
Mythology -- Classical -- Athena
Allegory -- Element -- Light
Religion -- Old Testament -- Adam & Eve
Literature -- Carroll -- Alice in Wonderland
Literature -- Perrault -- Mother Goose Tales
Literature -- Unknown -- Arabian Nights Entertainments
Literature -- Malory -- Le Morte d'Arthur
Literature -- Character -- Robin Hood
Object Type:
Architectural component
Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Los Angeles
Sculpture
Owner:
City of Los Angeles, Library Department, Central Library, 630 West 5th Street, Los Angeles, California 90071
Remarks:
The library building was a collaborative effort of architect Bertram Goodhue, sculptor Lee Lawrie, and philosopher Hartley Alexander, who provided the inscriptions. Goodhue died in 1924 before the building's completion and was replaced by his colleague, Carlton Winslow. The library is listed as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #46, and is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.
IAS files contain the following related articles and documents: excerpts from the books "The City Observed" by Charles Moore; "Painting and Sculpture in Los Angeles" by Nancy Moure; "L.A. Lost and Found" by Sam Hall; "Los Angeles Architectural Guide" by David Gebhard; Los Angeles Times, June 15, 1930, pt. 3 pg. 15; and a piece from "Downtown Public Art." Official documents include correspondence amongst the artist, architect, assistant and head librarian Everett Perry, minutes from meetings held by the Municipal Art Commission, and various documents and articles prepared by Hartley Alexander including "The Sculpture of Lee Lawrie," and "The Story of the Inscriptions." Two documents entitled the "Scheme for Sculptural Decoration and Inscriptions," and "Inscriptions for the Los Angeles Public Library" probably by Alexander, give a full explanation of the inscriptions and Latin and English translations. Other documents include a flyer entitled "Pershing Square" and a list of the library's indoor sculpture by Lee Lawrie. The library underwent a major renovation in the early 1990's after two fires. Artists and architects involved in this project tailored their designs to keep with the original concept and design of the 1920s project.
References:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, California survey, 1995.
"Handbook of the Central Building," Los Angeles: The Library, 1927, pg. 15-21, 30.
Soter, Bernadette Dominique, "The Light of Learning: an Illustrated History of the Los Angeles Public Library," Los Angeles: The Library Foundation of Los Angeles, 1993?.
Illustration:
Image on file.
Note:
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.
Repository:
Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Control Number:
IAS CA000407
Copy/Holding information
Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum
Control Number
Inventory of American Sculpture
CA000407
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