In Greek mythology, Atlas and Prometheus were brothers, both punished by Zeus for transgressions against the pantheon of gods. Prometheus for stealing diving fire from Olympus to give to mortal mankind, and Atlas for siding with the Titans in their revolt against Zeus. Atlas' punishment, forced to bear the weight of the cosmos on his shoulders, is depicted. Prometheus, on the other hand, is shown in the act of his offense. I suppose it is because we mortals would look at his crime as a boon, and also because his punishment is particularly gruesome and not conducive to public art. He was bound to a boulder where an eagle would eat his liver, which would regrow overnight to be eaten again the following day, ad infinitum.
The sculpture of Atlas on Fifth Avenue, situated across from St. Patrick's Cathedral, is probably Lee Lawrie's most famous work . It was created with Rene Paul Chambellan. Lawrie conceived and designed the figure, while Chambellan modeled the sculpture from Lawrie's sketches. It is the largest sculpture at Rockefeller Center, standing a total of 45 feet (14 m) tall. The 15' figure holds a sphere that is 21' (6.4 m) in diameter. Upon its unveiling in 1937, some viewers were reminded of Benito Mussolini, while James Montgomery said that it looked as Mussolini thought he looked.
Cast in 1934, Prometheus is the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center. It is located at the lower plaza, above the skating rink and directly beneath where a giant Christmas tree is annually installed. The gilded bronze sculpture was created by Paul Manship and cast by the Roman Bronze Works in Queens. Leonardo Nole, an Italian-American lifeguard, was the model. The statue measures 60' X 16' (18.3 m by 4.9 m) and weighs 8 tons, and is covered by nearly a pound of gold leaf. The inscription behind it is from Aeschylus: "Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends."
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