Civic

Los Angeles Central Public Library

A rich visual programme for one of Los Angeles’s most distinctive public buildings.

Archive article

Los Angeles Central Public Library

Los Angeles, California

Historic reference page titled “Exterior Sculptures by Lee Lawrie,” with a photograph of Copernicus and a list of the Los Angeles Public Library’s sculptural programme. — Historic reference to Lee Lawrie’s exterior sculptures at the Los Angeles Public Library.

On the north façade, the Philosopher stands at left and the Poet at right, framing the seal of the State of California.

The Well of Scribes was removed with the fountains from the library’s west side in 1969. It disappeared for fifty years before half of it resurfaced in an antique shop in Bisbee, Arizona; the other half remains missing.

The Torch of Knowledge finial rises above the tiled pyramid roof of the Los Angeles Public Library. A replica can also be seen inside on the second floor.

Lawrie used the torch as the crowning symbol of the library’s sculptural programme: the light of knowledge carried forward through literature, history and the printed word. The Greek lettering on its arm translates as “Light” or “Lamp”.

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Central Public Library

Photograph of The Philosopher, the Poet and the Library’s Coat of Arms, Wide view of the north entrance. An archival document identifies the Poet as “Poesy,” meaning the art of writing poetry. At centre, the coat of arms combines an American flag motif, the California bear, a Mexican eagle on a cactus with a snake, and the English lion and castle., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Philosopher, the Poet and the Library’s Coat of Arms
Wide view of the north entrance. An archival document identifies the Poet as “Poesy,” meaning the art of writing poetry. At centre, the coat of arms combines an American flag motif, the California bear, a Mexican eagle on a cactus with a snake, and the English lion and castle.

Photograph of Library’s Coat of Arms, Close detail of the carved American flag motif, California bear, Mexican eagle on a cactus with a snake, and English lion and castle., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Library’s Coat of Arms
Close detail of the carved American flag motif, California bear, Mexican eagle on a cactus with a snake, and English lion and castle.

Photograph of The Philosopher, Close view of the seated stone figure at the north entrance, holding an open book., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Philosopher
Close view of the seated stone figure at the north entrance, holding an open book.

Photograph of The Poet, Close view of the seated stone figure at the north entrance, holding a lyre. An archival document identifies the figure as “Poesy,” meaning the art of writing poetry., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Poet
Close view of the seated stone figure at the north entrance, holding a lyre. An archival document identifies the figure as “Poesy,” meaning the art of writing poetry.

Archival document of Poesy in The Western Architect, 1927, A page photographed by the author in 2005, showing the Poet identified as “Poesy” in a 1927 discussion of the Library’s sculpture., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Poesy in The Western Architect, 1927
A page photographed by the author in 2005, showing the Poet identified as “Poesy” in a 1927 discussion of the Library’s sculpture.

Archival document of Artland, August 1926, on the Los Angeles Public Library’s sculptural programme, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Artland, August 1926, on the Los Angeles Public Library’s sculptural programme

Photograph of The Torch Race, The torch symbolizes the passing of knowledge. Above and on either side are Hesper and Phosphor, the evening and morning stars, representing the wisdom of the East and the Western world., from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Torch Race
The torch symbolizes the passing of knowledge. Above and on either side are Hesper and Phosphor, the evening and morning stars, representing the wisdom of the East and the Western world.

Photograph of The Philosopher and the Poet, Los Angeles Central Public Library, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Philosopher and the Poet, Los Angeles Central Public Library

Photograph of Hesper and Phosphor, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Hesper and Phosphor

Photograph of Chandelier with zodiac figures, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Chandelier with zodiac figures

Photograph of Information on the chandelier in the Rotunda, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Information on the chandelier in the Rotunda

Photograph of The Torch of Knowledge finial, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Torch of Knowledge finial

Photograph of The Torch of Knowledge replica inside the library, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — The Torch of Knowledge replica inside the library

Photograph of Torch flame detail, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Torch flame detail

Photograph of Hand and torch detail, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Hand and torch detail

Photograph of Greek inscription for “Light” or “Lamp”, from Lee Lawrie’s Los Angeles, California collection. — Greek inscription for “Light” or “Lamp”

War memorial sculpture