The lions are as iconic as the grand Beaux-Arts landmark building they guard. At the time of its dedication on May 23, , it was the largest marble building ever constructed in the United States — three floors and over 10 million cubic feet, according to the NYPL.
The lions were never formally named, although they received several nicknames. But it was the charismatic Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia who found names that resonated during the Great Depression and remained relevant throughout the years.
Patience is on the south side of the entrance, while Fortitude sits sentry on the north. Both will be shielded in protective plywood enclosures for several weeks as crews carefully employ laser cleaning and inject grout into some larger cracks.
The project is being funded with a grant from The New York Life Foundation as well as donations from library patrons and others. WJE Engineers and Architects conducted the assessment and Integrated Conservation Contracting is slated to handle the cleaning and restoration work. Over the years, the lions have been festooned with top hats, Mets and Yankees caps and other decorations to celebrate holidays and unique New York moments.
But the library has put a stop to all of that, save the wreaths they wear for the holiday season. The masks are 3-feet wide, 2-feet tall, and go all the way over the nose. This comes as some library branches will begin reopening on July 13th for grab-and-go service. At that time, "masks will be mandatory to enter the branches to pick up or drop off materials. Would the Columbus statue ever wear a mask? This marble duo have been guarding the library since , and have "stood strong in the face of countless historic moments," including the Spanish Flu.
In the s, however, they got their forever names from Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who said they were named such "for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. Jun 29, PM. They have been the inspiration for books, photos, sketches and even an Avante Garde puppet show.
No matter what their age, tourists notice, take in a good look and then break into a big smile. These fearsome looking yet lovable statues invite you to head up the stairs to see all of the cultural treats inside. The third-floor reading room is a favorite haunt for students, writers, and researchers. Across the street, there is a huge lending library, as well as branches all over the city.
Some people visit the main branch just for the feel of it. Even if you are just browsing a volume from the surrounding shelves. Those two magnificently crafted lions were designed by Edward Clark Potter and created in stone by Attilio, Feirrucio, Furio, Getulio, Masaniello, and Orazio Piccirilli, sons of a Bronx stone carver who set up shop near his brownstone, who teamed up with Potter to bring the library lions to life.
The pink marble was brought into New York, all the way from Tennesse to get just the right shine and texture for the pieces. The Piccirilli brothers of the Bronx also created some other major sculptures around the city and eventually the country.
Sculptors who had a vision of a stone monument could call upon the Piccirilli brothers to execute it with expert precision. They were the crowning touch for a house full of treasures where anyone, no matter, how slim their wallet, could go and find information about just about any topic under the sun.
Just sitting on the steps, flanked by these two marvels in marble while having a cup of take-out coffee is good for the soul. Their names of the lions have changed over the years. Later, folks decided to dress them up in costume and name them Lady Astor and Lord Lenox. No one seemed to mind the renaming, despite the fact that both lions had full male manes.
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