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The Mythical Residents of the Rockefeller Center
The massive scale of Rockefeller Center is adorned with countless art deco reliefs and sculptures which soften the harden corners and squared-off entryways of the building. This selection gives a brief overview of a few works of art perched on the exterior of this monumental complex.
Sweden House
Lee Lawrie's "Atlas" graces the entrance of the Internation Building of the Rockefeller Center. Atlas holds an armillary sphere with its north-south axis towards the North Star.
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30 Rock
On a street corner, this small figurine gestures towards 30 Rock.
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1 Rockefeller Plaza
Over the 48th Street entrance, "The Joy of Life" was created by Antonio Piccirilli. It depicts Bacchus, the god of wine and agriculture, surrounded by his cohort of devotees.
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30 Rock
"Radio," by Leo Friedlander, assigns figures to symbolize the radio. With her back towards us, a figure representing transmission broadcasts a signal to three smaller figures to the left.
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30 Rock
"Television," like "Radio" pays homage to the main tenant of this building, NBC. Perhaps the characters are a post-modern mythic tribute to the air and radio waves which command populations.
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30 Rock
"Wisdom" was also carved by sculptor Lee Lawrie. He gestures down towards the biblical verse, which reads: “Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.”
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Rockefeller Center
"Prometheus," by Paul Manship, carries a stolen flame from the Chariot of the Sun. He falls towards the earth and sea through the Heavens, represented by the ring inscribed with the zodiac.
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La Maison Francaise
Over La Maison Francaise, a figure representing French Freedom was sculpted by Alfred Jannoit. She is perched above the words "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité."
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