Enlightenment by Eugenio Pedon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

This sculpture is part of a larger sculpture that once graced the top of the old post office building in downtown. There were two identical sculptures originally, and each was comprised of three figures. As a group they are known by several titles - Stone Ladies, Ladies of Stone, and Stone Maidens. Individually, they are Enlightenment, Industry and Navigation.

We believe this particular copy of Enlightenment was once located outside of a restaurant on Mt Washington. It was relocated to this corner in front of the Rite Aid in 1997. The other copy of Enlightenment still has her right arm, but whatever it originally held has been broken off.

Two of the figures (Navigation and Enlightenment) are now located on the Northside. Industry is by itself at one location, and with the second copy of Navigation at another location in Station Square.

Ladies of Stone by Eugenio Pedon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

Two of three figures from a sculpture that once topped the old post office building in downtown. Together the three figures are known by several titles: Stone Ladies, Stone Maidens, and Ladies of Stone. Individually these two are Navigation and Industry.

Navigation was depicted holding a rudder - which is mostly broken off on this copy. Industry is holding a mold. A mold of what, we have no clue, but some sort of industrial mold.

There were two copies of that original sculpture, so six individual stone ladies when the old post office building was demolished. Two of them are now together on the Northside, one is on Mt Washington, and the other copy of Industry is at a different Station Square location.

Stone Maidens by Eugenio Pedon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

 

The metal placard on the base of this sculpture identifies it as Stone Maidens, but this is an incomplete sculpture. There should be three figures here instead of just two, and there are multiple titles for the grouping. These two individual figures are titled Navigation and Enlightenment. The Smithsonian Institute keeps an inventory of public artwork, and they list this piece by four different titles: Navigation, Enlightenment, Stone Maidens, Ladies of Stone, and Stone Ladies. Whatever you call it, it is two thirds of a sculpture originally created to top the Federal Building (which became the Post Office building) downtown in 1889. Rescued from demolition in 1966 this duo now grace the entrance to the Children’s Museum at the corner of W. Commons.

There were actually two identical sculptures that topped the old post office. The six individual figures from those two sculptures were all saved, but they were divided and spread out around the city. Why they were separated we don’t know, but the third figure in the grouping (Industry) is now at Station Square. In fact you can find Industry by itself, and Industry along with the second copy of Navigation, at two locations in Station Square.

The description in the Smithsonian inventory has the seated figure (Navigation) holding a rudder and the standing figure (Enlightenment) holding a lamp. When we look at Enlightenment, we think there is something missing from her raised arm, (perhaps a torch?), but since it appears that she has the lamp (or lantern) in her other hand we really don't know what else she might have been holding. We have been unable to locate a photo of the original trio before they were damaged. The other copy of Enlightenment is currently up on Mt Washington, and her raised arm is completely broken off on that copy.

The figures appear to be out of proportion because they were designed to be viewed standing on the street looking up at the Post Office roof.

The sculpture is part of the artifacts collection of the Pgh History and Landmarks Foundation.

Industry by Eugenio Pedon

About Pgh Murals
Spreadsheet of Pittsburgh Public Art and blog archives
Map of Pittsburgh Public Art

This lady is one of six ladies that began as part of the decoration on the old downtown Federal Building built in 1889. They adorned the roof of the building, which later became the old Post Office. In 1966 the building was demolished and these sculptures were saved, though not as originally displayed. Originally there were two identical sculptures that were comprised of three ladies. In the course of the demolition most of the figures became separated and are now displayed in four different locations.

As a group of three, the sculpture is titled Stone Ladies, Stone Maidens, or Ladies of Stone. The Smithsonian lists all three titles and we don't know which is the correct, original title. Separated, the ladies have titles of their own. This one is Industry, and she holds an industrial mold of some sort.

You can see the other ladies at other locations around the city. The second copy of Industry is placed with one of the copies of Navigation at a different spot in Station Square. The second copy of Navigation is still attached to Enlightenment on the Northside, while the second copy of Enlightenment is up on Mt Washington by herself.