Piccirilli Brothers’ and Hermon MacNeil’s Sculptures at the NYC Library
ByThe NYC Library Building on Fifth Avenue was a Beaux Arts Masterpiece of the Picarrilli Brothers inside and out.
The famous library lions of NYC, Patience (near) and Fortitude (far left), are located at the entrance of this building on Fifth Avenue. The library lions were sculpted by Edward Clark Potter and carved by the Piccirilli Brothers.
In addition to carving the lions for The New York Public Library, the Piccirilli Brothers carved the six allegorical figures representing History, Romance, Religion, Poetry, Drama, and Philosophy that adorn the Library’s Fifth Avenue facade. [see them above the 3 arches]
New York Public Library’s Main Branch, specifically its flagship building at 476 Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The famous library lions, Patience and Fortitude, are located at the entrance of this building. The library lions were sculpted by Edward Clark Potter and carved by the Piccirilli Brothers. The Main Branch, also known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is a Beaux-Arts masterpiece and a New York City Landmark.
Piccirilli Statues above Fifth Street entrance.
A few of the Piccirilli Statues on NYPL: (obscured: History, Romance, Religion) Visible L to R: Poetry, Drama, and Philosophy. Inscriptions between the sculptures bear the names of library benefactors John Jacob Astor, James Lenox, and Samuel Jones Tilden.
MacNeil’s Statue of
John Stewart Kennedy
John Stewart Kennedy bust in New York Public Library
A BRIEF NOTE from the Webmaster:
“I did not discover this bust by Hermon A. MacNeil until 2020, 100 YEARS after this sculpture was installed in its niche at New York Public Library.
Here’s the story we found!”
“The John Stewart Kennedy Memorial was completed and the bust of Mr. Kennedy by H. A. MacNeil, the sculptor, was installed in the niche prepared for it in the Fifth Avenue entrance lobby. Mr. Kennedy was 
formerly the President of the Lenox Library, and upon the consolidation became a Trustee and Second Vice-President of The New York Public Library, in which capacities he continued to serve until his death in 1909. He took an active part in the negotiations, which resulted in the consolidation, and the deep interest, which he displayed in the development of the Library and his liberal benefactions to it will be ever remembered.” [SOURCE: Bulletin of the New York Public Library, Volume 24: January to December 1920, New York, 1920]
