Prometheus (Manship): Difference between revisions

Prometheus
Prometheus
	The sculpture in 2007
	Prometheus Location in New York City Prometheus Prometheus (New York City) Prometheus Prometheus (New York)
Artist	Paul Manship
Year	1934
Type	Sculpture
Medium	Bronze
Dimensions	5.5 m (18 ft)
Location	New York City, New York, United States
	40°45′31″N 73°58′43″W / 40.75872°N 73.97859°W

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Prometheus is a 1934 gilded, cast bronze sculpture by Paul Manship, located above the lower plaza at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York City. Created by Roman Bronze Works in Queens, the statue is 18 ft (5.5 m) tall and weighs 8 tons.^[1]^[2]

It depicts the Greek legend of the Titan Prometheus, bringing fire to mankind by stealing it from the Chariot of the Sun.^[3]^: 105

Description

The recumbent figure is in a 60-by-16-foot (18.3 by 4.9 m) fountain basin in front of a gray, rectangular wall in the Lower Plaza,^[4] located in the middle of Rockefeller Center.^[5]^[6] The ring — representing the heavens — is inscribed with the signs of the zodiac, which are labeled on the inside of the ring. Through the ring, he falls toward the earth (the mountain) and the sea (the pool).^[7]

The inscription – a paraphrase from Aeschylus – on the granite wall behind, reads: "Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends."^[4]^[3]^: 105

Prometheus is considered the main artwork of Rockefeller Center, and is one of the complex's more well-known works of art. The seasonal Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is erected above the statue every winter. During the rest of the year, Prometheus serves as the main aesthetic draw in the lower plaza's outdoor restaurant.^[3]^: 105

Associated artworks

The statue was flanked by Manship's Youth and Maiden (the "Mankind Figures"), occupying the granite shelves to the rear.^[8] (The shelves are now topped by plants.) They were relocated to Palazzo d'Italia from 1939 to 1984, because Manship thought they did not fit visually.^[4]^[3]^: 101 Originally gilded, they were given a brown patina when restored. They were moved to the staircase above the skating rink in 2001, as if they are "announcing Prometheus".^[9]

Four Prometheus maquettes exist: one at the Smithsonian Institution, one at the Minnesota Museum of Art, and two in private collections.^[10]

Models

The model for Prometheus was Leonardo Nole (c. 1907–1998), an Italian-American lifeguard from New Rochelle who modeled for college art classes. He spent three months posing for this assignment in the spring of 1933. After World War II, he became a postal worker.^[11]

Manship's assistant Angelo Colombo did most of the detail work when Nole was posing. Henry Kreis, another assistant, sculpted the hair.^{[N 1]}

Ray Van Cleef posed for the original small-scale rendering.^[14]

Leonardo Nole poses for the statue, 1933

Leonardo Nole poses for the statue, 1933
Regilding in 2011

References

^ "Kreis"^[12] was misspelled as "Krist" in Nole's obituary in The New York Times.^[11]^[13]

^ "STATUE IN CENTER PLAZA.; Giant Figure of Prometheus Set at Rockefeller Fountain" (PDF). New York Times. 1934. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-11-11. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
^ "Prometheus". Rockefeller Center. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Roussel, Christine (May 17, 2006). The Art of Rockefeller Center. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. pp. 101, 105. ISBN 978-0-3930-6082-9.
^ ^a ^b ^c Adams, Janet (1985). "Rockefeller Center Designation Report" (PDF). City of New York; New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. p. 168. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
^ Federal Writers' Project (1939). New York City: Vol 1, New York City Guide. US History Publishers. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-60354-055-1.
^ Krinsky, Carol H. (1978). Rockefeller Center. Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-19-502404-3.
^ "The story of Prometheus". Rock History.
^ "Photo showing the original setup". 1934.
^ "Mankind Figures (Maiden and Youth)". Art Exhibits of NYC: Rockefeller Center.
^ "Prometheus". Shining Collection. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
^ ^a ^b Thomas, Robert McG., Jr. (February 27, 1998). "Leonardo Nole, 91, Prometheus Statue's Model". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Paul Manship: Changing Taste in America. Minnesota Museum of Art. 1985. p. 133. He employed a number of assistants (some were to become well-known — Henry Kreis, Albert Stewart and Carl Schmitz in particular). [emphasis added]
^ The New York Times Biographical Service. New York Times & Arno Press. 1998. Most of the detail work was done by an assistant, Angelo Colombo, and another assistant, Henry Krist [sic], sculptured the hair. [A reprint of the obituary]
^ Deal, Martha (May 2000). "Who Posed for the Statue of Prometheus?" (PDF). Iron Game History. 6 (3): 34–35. Retrieved January 11, 2019 – via H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports.

External links

Media related to Prometheus by Paul Manship at Wikimedia Commons

[14] "Kreis"^[12] was misspelled as "Krist" in Nole's obituary in The New York Times.^[11]^[13]

[1] "STATUE IN CENTER PLAZA.; Giant Figure of Prometheus Set at Rockefeller Fountain" (PDF). New York Times. 1934. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-11-11. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[2] "Prometheus". Rockefeller Center. Retrieved 2014-06-02.

[roussel-3] Roussel, Christine (May 17, 2006). The Art of Rockefeller Center. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. pp. 101, 105. ISBN 978-0-3930-6082-9.

[adams-4] Adams, Janet (1985). "Rockefeller Center Designation Report" (PDF). City of New York; New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. p. 168. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

[5] Federal Writers' Project (1939). New York City: Vol 1, New York City Guide. US History Publishers. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-60354-055-1.

[6] Krinsky, Carol H. (1978). Rockefeller Center. Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-19-502404-3.

[7] "The story of Prometheus". Rock History.

[8] "Photo showing the original setup". 1934.

[9] "Mankind Figures (Maiden and Youth)". Art Exhibits of NYC: Rockefeller Center.

[10] "Prometheus". Shining Collection. Retrieved 2014-06-02.

[obit-11] Thomas, Robert McG., Jr. (February 27, 1998). "Leonardo Nole, 91, Prometheus Statue's Model". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[12] Paul Manship: Changing Taste in America. Minnesota Museum of Art. 1985. p. 133. He employed a number of assistants (some were to become well-known — Henry Kreis, Albert Stewart and Carl Schmitz in particular). [emphasis added]

[13] The New York Times Biographical Service. New York Times & Arno Press. 1998. Most of the detail work was done by an assistant, Angelo Colombo, and another assistant, Henry Krist [sic], sculptured the hair. [A reprint of the obituary]

[irongamewhoposed-15] Deal, Martha (May 2000). "Who Posed for the Statue of Prometheus?" (PDF). Iron Game History. 6 (3): 34–35. Retrieved January 11, 2019 – via H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports.

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@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 | url                = <!--{{URL|example.com}} Only for official web pages-->
 }}
-'''''Prometheus''''' is a 1934 [[gilding|gilded]], cast [[bronze sculpture]] by [[Paul Manship]], located above the lower plaza at [[Rockefeller Center]] in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]]. Created by [[Roman Bronze Works]] in [[Queens]], the statue is {{cvt|18|ft|m}} tall and weighs 8 tons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1934/01/10/94483422.pdf |title=STATUE IN CENTER PLAZA.; Giant Figure of Prometheus Set at Rockefeller Fountain. |last= |first= |date=1934 |work=[[New York Times]] |access-date=2017-11-11 |archive-url=|archive-date= |dead-url= |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockefellercenter.com/art-and-history/art/prometheus/ |title=Prometheus |publisher=[[Rockefeller Center]] |access-date=2014-06-02}}</ref>
+'''''Prometheus''''' is a 1934 [[gilding|gilded]], [[cast bronze|cast]] [[bronze sculpture]] by [[Paul Manship]], located above the lower plaza at [[Rockefeller Center]] in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]]. Created by [[Roman Bronze Works]] in [[Queens]], the statue is {{cvt|18|ft|m}} tall and weighs 8 tons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1934/01/10/94483422.pdf |title=STATUE IN CENTER PLAZA.; Giant Figure of Prometheus Set at Rockefeller Fountain. |last= |first= |date=1934 |work=[[New York Times]] |access-date=2017-11-11 |archive-url=|archive-date= |dead-url= |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockefellercenter.com/art-and-history/art/prometheus/ |title=Prometheus |publisher=[[Rockefeller Center]] |access-date=2014-06-02}}</ref>
 It depicts the Greek legend of the Titan [[Prometheus]], bringing fire to mankind by stealing it from the [[Chariot of the Sun]].<ref name=roussel/>{{rp|105}}
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 == Description ==
-The [[recumbence|recumbent]] figure is in a {{convert|60|by|16|ft|m|adj=on}} fountain basin in front of a gray, rectangular wall in the Lower Plaza,<ref name=adams/> located in the middle of Rockefeller Center.<ref>{{cite book |author=Federal Writers' Project |title=New York City: Vol 1, New York City Guide |publisher=US History Publishers |year=1939 |isbn=978-1-60354-055-1 |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/newyorkcityguide00federich |page=336|author-link=Federal Writers' Project }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Krinsky |first=Carol H. |author-link=Carol Herselle Krinsky |title=Rockefeller Center |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1978 |isbn=978-0-19-502404-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xlDAQAAIAAJ |page=64}}</ref>
+The [[recumbence|recumbent]] figure is in a {{convert|60|by|16|ft|m|adj=on}} fountain basin in front of a gray, rectangular wall in the Lower Plaza,<ref name=adams/> located in the middle of Rockefeller Center.<ref>{{cite book |author=Federal Writers' Project |title=New York City: Vol 1, New York City Guide |publisher=US History Publishers |year=1939 |isbn=978-1-60354-055-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/newyorkcityguide00federich |page=336|author-link=Federal Writers' Project }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Krinsky |first=Carol H. |author-link=Carol Herselle Krinsky |title=Rockefeller Center |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1978 |isbn=978-0-19-502404-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xlDAQAAIAAJ |page=64}}</ref>
-The ring – inscribed with the [[astrological sign|signs of the zodiac]] (labeled on the inside of the ring) – represents the heavens, from which he falls toward the earth (the mountain) and the sea (the pool).<ref>{{cite web |title=The story of Prometheus |url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/blog/2014/04/09/rock-history2/ |website=Rock History}}</ref>
+The ring — representing the heavens — is inscribed with the [[astrological sign|signs of the zodiac]], which are labeled on the inside of the ring. Through the ring, he falls toward the earth (the mountain) and the sea (the pool).<ref>{{cite web |title=The story of Prometheus |url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/blog/2014/04/09/rock-history2/ |website=Rock History}}</ref>
-The inscription – a paraphrase from [[Aeschylus]] – on the granite wall behind, reads: "Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends."<ref name=adams>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1985RockefellerCenter.pdf|title=Rockefeller Center Designation Report|date=1985|publisher=[[Government of New York City|City of New York]]; [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |last=Adams|first=Janet|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|page=168}}</ref><ref name=roussel>{{cite book| first=Christine| last=Roussel| title=The Art of Rockefeller Center| location=New York| publisher=W.W. Norton & Company| date=May 17, 2006| isbn=978-0-3930-6082-9|pages=101, 105}}</ref>{{rp|105}}
+The inscription – a paraphrase from [[Aeschylus]] – on the granite wall behind, reads: "Prometheus, teacher in every art, [[theft of fire|brought the fire]] that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends."<ref name=adams>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1985RockefellerCenter.pdf|title=Rockefeller Center Designation Report|date=1985|publisher=[[Government of New York City|City of New York]]; [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] |last=Adams|first=Janet|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|page=168}}</ref><ref name=roussel>{{cite book| first=Christine| last=Roussel| title=The Art of Rockefeller Center| location=New York| publisher=W.W. Norton & Company| date=May 17, 2006| isbn=978-0-3930-6082-9|pages=101, 105}}</ref>{{rp|105}}
 ''Prometheus'' is considered the main artwork of Rockefeller Center, and is one of the complex's more well-known works of art. The seasonal [[Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree]] is erected above the statue every winter. During the rest of the year, ''Prometheus'' serves as the main aesthetic draw in the lower plaza's outdoor restaurant.<ref name=roussel/>{{rp|105}}
 === Associated artworks ===
-The statue was flanked by Manship's ''Youth'' and ''Maiden'' (the "Mankind Figures"), occupying the granite shelves to the rear<ref>{{cite web |title=Photo showing the original setup |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612125622/https://www.christies.com/media-library/images/features/articles/2018/05/01/how-the-rockefellers-built-new-york-skyline/lookingdownonthefountainfeaturingyouthprometheusandmaiden1934.jpg?w=3780 |date=1934 }}</ref> (now topped by plants).
+The statue was flanked by Manship's ''Youth'' and ''Maiden'' (the "Mankind Figures"), occupying the granite shelves to the rear.<ref>{{cite web |title=Photo showing the original setup |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612125622/https://www.christies.com/media-library/images/features/articles/2018/05/01/how-the-rockefellers-built-new-york-skyline/lookingdownonthefountainfeaturingyouthprometheusandmaiden1934.jpg?w=3780 |date=1934 }}</ref> (The shelves are now topped by plants.)
-They were relocated to [[Palazzo d'Italia]] from 1939 to 1984, because Manship thought they did not fit visually.<ref name=adams/><ref name=roussel/>{{rp|101}} Originally gilded, they were given a brown [[patina]] when restored. They were moved to the staircase above the skating rink in 2001, as if they are "announcing Prometheus".<ref>{{cite web |title=Mankind Figures (Maiden and Youth) |url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/art-and-history/art/mankind-figures-maiden-and-youth/ |website=Art Exhibits of NYC: Rockefeller Center}}</ref>
+They were relocated to [[Palazzo d'Italia]] from 1939 to 1984, because Manship thought they did not fit visually.<ref name=adams/><ref name=roussel/>{{rp|101}} Originally gilded, they were given a brown [[patina]] when restored. They were moved to the staircase above the skating rink in 2001, as if they are "announcing Prometheus".<ref>{{cite web |title=''Mankind Figures'' (''Maiden'' and ''Youth'') |url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/art-and-history/art/mankind-figures-maiden-and-youth/ |website=Art Exhibits of NYC: Rockefeller Center}}</ref>
 Four ''Prometheus'' [[maquette]]s exist: one at the [[Smithsonian Institution]], one at the [[Minnesota Museum of Art]], and two in private collections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shiningcollection.com/prometheus.html |title=Prometheus |publisher=Shining Collection |access-date=2014-06-02}}</ref>
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 == Models ==
-The model for Prometheus was Leonardo Nole ({{circa|1907}}–1998), an Italian-American lifeguard from [[New Rochelle]] who modeled for college art classes. He spent three months posing for this assignment in the spring of 1933. After World War II, he later became a postal worker.<ref>{{cite web | last=Thomas | first=Robert Mcg. Jr. | title=Leonardo Nole, 91, Prometheus Statue's Model | website=The New York Times | date=February 27, 1998 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/27/nyregion/leonardo-nole-91-prometheus-statue-s-model.html | access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>
+The model for Prometheus was Leonardo Nole ({{circa|1907}}–1998), an Italian-American lifeguard from [[New Rochelle]] who modeled for college art classes. He spent three months posing for this assignment in the spring of 1933. After World War II, he became a postal worker.<ref name=obit>{{cite web | last=Thomas | first=Robert McG., Jr. |authorlink=Robert McG. Thomas Jr. | title=Leonardo Nole, 91, Prometheus Statue's Model | website=The New York Times | date=February 27, 1998 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/27/nyregion/leonardo-nole-91-prometheus-statue-s-model.html | access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>
+Manship's assistant Angelo Colombo did most of the detail work when Nole was posing. Henry Kreis, another assistant, sculpted the hair.{{refn|group=N|"Kreis"<ref>{{cite book|title=Paul Manship: Changing Taste in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FeOwAAAAIAAJ|year=1985|publisher=Minnesota Museum of Art|page=133|quote= He employed a number of assistants (some were to become well-known — Henry ''Kreis'',  Albert Stewart and Carl Schmitz in particular). [emphasis added]}}</ref> was misspelled as "Krist" in Nole's obituary in ''The New York Times''.<ref name=obit/><ref>{{cite book|title=The New York Times Biographical Service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1nMoAQAAIAAJ|year=1998|publisher=New York Times & Arno Press|quote= Most of the detail work was done by an assistant, Angelo Colombo, and another assistant, Henry {{sic|Krist}}, sculptured the hair. [A reprint of the obituary]}}</ref>}}
-Manship's assistant Angelo Colombo did most of the detail work when Nole was posing. Henry Kreis, another assistant, sculpted the hair.
 [[Ray Van Cleef]] posed for the original small-scale rendering.<ref name="irongamewhoposed">{{cite journal |last1=Deal |first1=Martha |title=Who Posed for the Statue of Prometheus? |journal=Iron Game History |date=May 2000 |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=34–35 |url=https://www.starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v6/igh-v6-n3/igh0603n.pdf |accessdate=January 11, 2019|via=[[H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports]]}}</ref>
 <gallery>
-File:Leonardo Nole Prometheus.png|Leonardo Nole poses for the statue of Prometheus ca. 1932
+File:Leonardo Nole Prometheus.png|Leonardo Nole poses for the statue, 1933
-File:Gilding Rock Cen Prometheus jeh.jpg|Regilding in 2011
+File:Gilding Rock Cen Prometheus jeh.jpg|Re[[gilding]] in 2011
 </gallery>
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 ==References==
+{{reflist|group=N}}
 {{Reflist}}

v t e Paul Manship
Sculptures	Duck Girl (1911) Indian Hunter (1917) The Flight of Europa (1925) Abraham Lincoln: The Hoosier Youth (1932) Group of Bears (1932) Prometheus (1934) Rainey Memorial Gates (1934) Celestial Sphere Woodrow Wilson Memorial (1938) Aero Memorial (1948)
Other works	Seal of New York City (1915) Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal (1943) Merchant Marine Mariner's Medal (1943) Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal (1944) George Davidson Medal (1951) North Carolina Award (c. 1964)