Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Pulitzer Fountain

Sculpture at Pulitzer Fountain at Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan, across from the Plaza Hotel.


















Designed by architect Thomas Hastings, the fountain was built in 1915-16 and funded by the estate of the publisher Joseph Pulitzer. This sculpture was carved by Orazio Piccirilli, one of a family of stone-cutters who'd immigrated from Italy. The Piccirillis had a lineage of stone carving dating back to the early Renaissance, and the six brothers and their father had established a shop in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The Piccirilli Family is responsible for some of the most well-known sculptures in New York City, including the Lions in front of the Public Library, the sculptures at the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge, on the arch at Washington Square Park, the facade of the Brooklyn Museum, and many other recognizable landmarks. Their name is not well-known today, but they really left an indelible mark on the look of the city.

I'm not sure what this winged sea-goat creature is called, but the rear section is a Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty, and relates to the sculpture in the center of the fountain, Pomona, the goddess of abundance.


Piccirilli Family History

Pulitzer Fountain History



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