Giant Frog (1941)

by Cornelia Van Auken Chapin (1893 - 1972)

Photo Caption: Photo Caitlin Martin © 2015 for the Association for Public Art
  • Title

    Giant Frog

  • Artist

    Cornelia Van Auken Chapin (1893 - 1972)

  • Year

    1941

  • Location

    Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Streets

  • Medium

    Granite, on granite base

  • Dimensions

    Height 3'2", width 2'4", depth 2'5" (base height 1'5", width 3'3", depth 2'11")

  • Themes

    The Animal Kingdom, Women and Public Art

Acquired by the Rittenhouse Square Improvement Association

Owned by the City of Philadelphia

At A Glance

  • One of the many animal sculptures featured in Rittenhouse Square

  • Acquired by the same organization that installed the Evelyn Taylor Price Sundial, the Fountain Mosaic, and the Dr. J. William White Memorial

  • Artist Cornelia Van Auken Chapin was one of the artists to exhibit her work at the Fairmount Park Art Association’s (now the Association for Public Art) third Sculpture International exhibition in 1949

A large granite frog sits at rest in Rittenhouse Square, apparently in concentration and is one of the many animal sculptures featured in Rittenhouse Square. Cornelia Van Auken Chapin’s Giant Frog was given to the City in 1941 by the the Rittenhouse Square Improvement Association, which also commissioned the Evelyn Taylor Price Sundial, the Fountain Mosaic, and the Dr. J. William White Memorial.

Born in Waterford, Connecticut, artist Cornelia Van Auken Chapin was known for her animal sculptures and was one of the artists to exhibit work at the Fairmount Park Art Association’s (now the Association for Public Art) third Sculpture International exhibition in 1949 for the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial where more than 250,000 people came to see the 252 works on display. The exhibitions contributed not only to the Samuel Memorial but also to the general awareness of contemporary sculpture throughout the Philadelphia area.

Giant Frog sculpture in Rittenhouse Square
Photo Caitlin Martin © 2015 for the Association for Public Art

RESOURCES

This artwork is part of the Around Rittenhouse Square tour

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