Rockefeller Center's Atlas Statue

Visited 8-12 June, 2006

Except for a Sunday afternoon in Central Park and a bit of shopping, our trip was pretty much confined to the Rockefeller Center (where we stayed) and the theater district (where we nighted) just to the west.  That being said, our many plans to tour and photograph the art deco shrine John Rockefeller built did not come to pass.  However, here's a shot of Lee Lawrie's Atlas statue guarding the eastern edge of the center from those rascally Catholics across 5th Avenue at St. Pat's.

Atlas here doesn't look that much different from fellow Jesuit-trained Harry Connick, Jr. who appeared bare chested to conclude The Pajama Game (which we had just seen).   Like Atlas, Harry's obviously been pumping up.  Atlas, however, can probably lift more as he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders as punishment from Zeus.  (In the US, we call those people presidents and Zeus is called Chaney.)  The exaggerated muscles are characteristic of Art Deco.  Atlas's sphere has its north-south axis lined up with the North Star (as if you could see any stars in Manhattan other than on the streets where we did run into Harry Connick, Jr.).  If you're wondering what's that between Atlas' thighs --it's a chain but this angle suggests otherwise.

See More New York in June Pictures: Previous: St Pats | Next: MOMA  | New York in June Picture Index
Created on 20 June 2006

Home Page | Travel Index | About Us | Contact Us | Search our site
© 2006 Dick Schmitt, Houston, TX.