John Christian Bullitt (1907)

by John J. Boyle (1851 - 1917)

Photo Caption: Photo Caitlin Martin © 2013 for the Association for Public Art
City Hall, North Plaza (Broad and Market Streets)
1907

  • Title

    John Christian Bullitt

  • Artist

    John J. Boyle (1851 - 1917)

  • Year

    1907

  • Medium

    Bronze, on granite base

  • Dimensions

    Height 9'10", width 3'3", depth 3'3", depth (base height 5’1″, width 5'1", depth 5')

  • Themes

    Presidents and Leaders, Political Public Art

Gift of private citizens to the City of Philadelphia

Owned by the City of Philadelphia


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At A Glance

  • Part of the Museum Without Walls: AUDIO program

  • John Christian Bullitt drafted the “Bullitt Bill” of 1885, a government-reform measure that became Philadelphia’s City Charter

  • He erected the city’s first modern office building

An attorney and civic leader, John Christian Bullitt drafted the “Bullitt Bill” of 1885, a government-reform measure that became Philadelphia’s City Charter two years later. He also erected the city’s first modern office building, which was eventually taken down to make way for Independence National Historical Park.

This bronze was commissioned by the citizens of Philadelphia in 1902. Sculptor John J. Boyle, from an immigrant Irish family of stonecutters, spent most of his career in Philadelphia and New York. His other sculptures include Stone Age in America on Kelly Drive and Benjamin Franklin at the University of Pennsylvania.

John C. Bullitt by John J. Boyle
Photo Caitlin Martin for the Association for Public Art

 

 

Voices heard in the program:

Mayor Michael Nutter is the former mayor of Philadelphia. He assumed office in 2008 as the 98th mayor of the city.

William C. Bullitt is the great-great grandson of John C. Bullitt. He is a partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Philadelphia, the law firm founded by John C. Bullitt.

Elizabeth Milroy is Professor and Department Head of Art and Art History at Drexel University. She is a specialist in American art and the history of Philadelphia.

Segment Producer: Rachel James

A program of the Association for Public Art (formerly the Fairmount Park Art Association), Museum Without Walls: AUDIO is an innovative and accessible outdoor sculpture audio program for Philadelphia’s preeminent collection of public art.

User calls Museum Without Walls Audio for Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture
Photo Albert Yee © 2010 for the Association for Public Art

A “multi-platform” interactive audio experience – available for free by cell phone, mobile app, or on our website – Museum Without Walls: AUDIO offers the unique histories that are not typically expressed on outdoor permanent signage.

Unlike audio tours that have a single authoritative guide or narrator, each speaker featured in Museum Without Walls: AUDIO is an “authentic voice” – someone who is connected to the sculpture by knowledge, experience, or affiliation.

Over 150 unique voices are featured, including artists, educators, scientists, writers, curators, civic leaders, and historians.

LEARN MORE >>

 

This artwork is part of the Around City Hall tour

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