Piazza Lavoro, (sculpture)

Object Details

Notes: Carnegie Museum of Art, 1990.; Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1995.; Image on file.; unsigned; The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary: Series of four mosaic-tiled, curved architectural facades which encircle a monolithic abstract vertical form made of black marble aggregate. The facades are adorned with figures and nature life meant to represent labor and its role the development of this country and remind the viewer of the delicate balance between civilization and nature. On one wall, there are two nude male figures, one holding a hammer in his proper left hand, his proper right hand encircling his head as he bends over; the other male figure wearing an expression of distress, holds his proper left hand up to his forehead. On the next wall, a single nude male figure is depicted in profile as he walks toward the edge of the wall. He holds a hammer down at his side with his proper left hand, his proper right hand encircles his head and he looks down at the ground. The next wall contains three open archways leading to the river. A circular window appears over the center archway. Palm trees are depicted between each of the archways. The next wall features three figures, two nude females and one nude male, who are involved in building a structure. One of the female figures kneels in front of a bucket located in the bottom left corner, the other female figure is up on top of the structure with a bucket beside her. With her proper left hand, she reaches down to the male figure who is climbing up a set of stairs carrying a square container on his proper left shoulder. A circular window appears over the three figures.

Data Source: Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums

Date: 1984. Dedicated June 12, 1984

Control number: IAS 46470057

sculptor: Smyth, Ned 1948-

Type: Sculptures-Mosaic; Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture; Sculptures

Medium: Terrazzo, cast concrete, black marble aggregate

Owner/Location: Administered by Carnegie Institute Museum of Art 4400 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 Accession Number: 84.15.4.1; Located Allegheny Landing Isabella Street near Sandusky Street Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Topic: Architecture--Detail--Arch; Architecture--Detail--Wall; Figure group--Nude; Allegory--Arts & Sciences--Industry; Occupation--Industry--Construction

Record ID: siris_ari_297088

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