Photograph of Civilization and the Sphinxes. The monumental entrance sculpture at Los Angeles Central Library, a defining collaboration of art, architecture and learning.

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Civilization and the Sphinxes

The monumental entrance sculpture at Los Angeles Central Library, a defining collaboration of art, architecture and learning.

Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927

Civilization & the Sphinxes

Photograph of Original plaster model for Civilization, This is Lawrie’s original plaster model for Civilization from which the stone statue was carved by Eddie Ardolino. It was completed in or around 1930., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Original plaster model for Civilization
This is Lawrie’s original plaster model for Civilization from which the stone statue was carved by Eddie Ardolino. It was completed in or around 1930.

Photograph of Proposed placement of Civilization, From the original blue prints of the Los Angeles Public Library, this drawing shows the proposed placement of the statue of Civilization, even before it was created., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Proposed placement of Civilization
From the original blue prints of the Los Angeles Public Library, this drawing shows the proposed placement of the statue of Civilization, even before it was created.

Photograph of Civilization and the Sphinxes, Sphinxes symbolizing the hidden mysteries of knowledge and guarding the approach to the Statue of Civilization. In black, unveined Belgian Marble., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Civilization and the Sphinxes
Sphinxes symbolizing the hidden mysteries of knowledge and guarding the approach to the Statue of Civilization. In black, unveined Belgian Marble.

Photograph of Civilization, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Civilization

Photograph of Civilization’s Gown, Showing the progression of ancient through modern civilizations., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Civilization’s Gown
Showing the progression of ancient through modern civilizations.

Archival document of A Library publication, Explaining the symbolism and literary heritage of the Civilization and Sphinxes., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — A Library publication
Explaining the symbolism and literary heritage of the Civilization and Sphinxes.

Archival document of Library publication explaining Civilization’s symbols, torch and Sphinxes, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Library publication explaining Civilization’s symbols, torch and Sphinxes

Photograph of Another view of Civilization’s Gown, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Another view of Civilization’s Gown

Photograph of The Left Sphinx, “I am all that was and is to be and no man hath lifted up my veil.” —Plutarch., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — The Left Sphinx
“I am all that was and is to be and no man hath lifted up my veil.” —Plutarch.

Photograph of The Left Sphinx, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — The Left Sphinx

Photograph of The Right Sphinx, “Therefore, the desire of truth, especially that which concerns the gods, is itself a yearning after Divinity.” —Plutarch., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — The Right Sphinx
“Therefore, the desire of truth, especially that which concerns the gods, is itself a yearning after Divinity.” —Plutarch.

Photograph of The Right Sphinx, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — The Right Sphinx

Archival document of A library publication from LAPL’s archives, The books held by the Sphinxes contain phrases from Plutarch’s Morals (On Isis and Osiris). The Sphinxes are carved from black Belgian Marble., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — A library publication from LAPL’s archives
The books held by the Sphinxes contain phrases from Plutarch’s Morals (On Isis and Osiris). The Sphinxes are carved from black Belgian Marble.

Archival document of Model note, Lawrie asked that the plaster model used for Civilization and Sphinx to be destroyed upon completion of the work, but he requested to keep the head., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Model note
Lawrie asked that the plaster model used for Civilization and Sphinx to be destroyed upon completion of the work, but he requested to keep the head.

Archival document of Letter to Librarian Everett Perry, Lawrie advises on the lighting, as well as the care of the statues of Civilization and the Sphinxes., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles Central Public Library · 1927 collection. — Letter to Librarian Everett Perry
Lawrie advises on the lighting, as well as the care of the statues of Civilization and the Sphinxes.