Tuesday, August 14, 2012

New York City: Rockefeller Center [ Atlas - by Lee Lawrie and Rene Paul Chambellan]


Atlas - by Lee Lawrie and Rene Paul Chambellan
Heroic size sculpture
Cast bronze / 15-foot high on 9-foot granite pedestal / 7 tons
Location: 630 Fifth Avenue, main entrance forecourt

From the Rockefeller Center website.. click here..
Atlas is a successful collaboration between two talented artists, Lee Lawrie, who conceived the idea and designed the figure and Rene Paul Chambellan, who modeled the heroic-sized statue from his sketch. A famous figure from Greek mythology, Atlas was half-man, half-god giant known as Titan, who helped lead a war against the Olympic gods. After the Titan's defeat, Atlas was condemned  to carry the world on his shoulders as punishment. Atlas is one of Rockefeller's greatest Art Deco icon and has even been used on U.S. postage stamps.



From the website Photohome.com, click here
The north-south axis of the armillary sphere on his shoulders points to the North Star as viewed from New York City. Laid across Atlas's shoulders is a wide, curved beam that displays a frieze of the traditional symbols for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Adjacent to Earth (over Atlas's right forearm) is a small crescent symbolizing the Moon. Affixed to one of the sphere's rings are symbols for twelve constellations through which the Sun passes during the year.


On Atlas's right forearm.. From right to left..
symbols of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars..
Adjacent to Earth, is a small crescent symbolizing  Moon



On Atlas's left forearm.. From right to left
symbols of  Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Is Jupiter missing? Or am I missing Jupiter?
I have tried to see the image many times. Everytime I see seven planets. Four on right forearm and three on the left. Am I missing something?
P.S.: A very logical explanation has been provided by Eli Robb.. To read scroll down..


Click to enlarge..




The statue stands across from St. Patrick's Cathedral.

My question remains open to the readers..
Is Jupiter missing? Or am I missing Jupiter?
I have tried to see the image many times. Everytime I see seven planets. Four on right forearm and three on the left. Am I missing something?

A very logical explanation has been provided by Eli Robb,
who maintains a wonderful blog, Sculpture Spotter,  click here.....
It may be that the Jupiter symbol is not visible because it is (or would be) directly behind Atlas' head. It was Jupiter/Zeus who punished Atlas to bear the celestial weight after his Olympians defeated Atlas' Titans. It would make sense that Jupiter would bear down most heavily on Atlas, at the point where the arc meets his neck. It is also where the planet Jupiter would be located--the fifth planet from the sun, or fifth from the right on this sculpture. Just a theory...

RELATED LINKS..
Prometheus and Mankind Figures - by Paul Manship.. click here..
Wisdom, Sound and Light by Lee Laurie.. click here..
New York City.. click here..
2011: Two weeks of Summer Vacation [Trip to New York City, Washingto



3 comments:

Eli Robb said...

It may be that the Jupiter symbol is not visible because it is (or would be) directly behind Atlas' head. It was Jupiter/Zeus who punished Atlas to bear the celestial weight after his Olympians defeated Atlas' Titans. It would make sense that Jupiter would bear down most heavily on Atlas, at the point where the arc meets his neck. It is also where the planet Jupiter would be located--the fifth planet from the sun, or fifth from the right on this sculpture. Just a theory...

Jyoti said...

Wow Eli! Thank You! That's a very logical explanation.That explains it all! I will incorporate this text in the post... Thanks again!

Protogonus said...

You have mixed up right and left arms.