
Zodiacal Reliefs - Chicago, IL, USA
Posted by:
adgorn
N 41° 53.496 W 087° 37.458
16T E 448209 N 4637929
Figural representations of the Zodiac signs incised in low relief on façade of 520 N. Michigan Ave, the former McGraw Hill Building.
Waymark Code: WM147AM
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 05/05/2021
Views: 2
The Smithsonian database:
(
visit link)
identifies the following categories of figures: Emblem -- Zodiac, Figure female -- Nude, Figure female -- Full length, Figure male -- Full length, Object -- Foliage. Not bad, since there is no other specific listing that I could locate. I would add the three reliefs for Diana, Atlas and Helios and expand the title of the entry to include "Greek Deities."
In 1999/2000 the original art deco McGraw Hill building was torn down to make way for an improved shopping site plus hotel. There was such a hue & cry that the developers agreed to save the reliefs and attached them to the new structure, preserving the look of the original building. See (
visit link) for more information.
The Pocket Guide to Chicago Architecture also provides a good overview:
(
visit link)