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"Miss Manhattan": Audrey Munson & Public Sculpture in NYC

Audrey Munson (1891-1996) was once the most famous artist’s model in the United States and her likeness can be found in a dozen public sculptures in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In 1913, her likeness had become so prominent in public spaces that the New York Sun dubbed her "Miss Manhattan." For an in-depth look at the rise and tragic fall of America’s First Supermodel, we recommend “The Curse of Beauty: The Scandalous & Tragic Life of Audrey Munson, America’s First Supermodel” by James Bone and “Miss Manhattan” (Episode 200) of the 99% Invisible podcast.

By

NYC Public Design Commission

1

USS Maine Monument

USS Maine Monument

"Columbia Triumphant" (1913) by Attilio Piccirilli for the USS Maine National Monument. Photograph by A.B. Bogart.

2

USS Maine Monument

USS Maine Monument

"Columbia Triumphant" (1913) by Attilio Piccirilli for the USS Maine National Monument. Photograph by A.B. Bogart.

3

USS Maine Monument

USS Maine Monument

"Peace" (1913) by Attilio Piccirilli for the USS Maine National Monument. Photograph by A.B. Bogart.

4

New York Public Library, Main Branch

New York Public Library, Main Branch

"Beauty" (1914-1920) by Frederick MacMonnies. Audrey Munson wrote that she was the leg model for this piece.

5

Pulitzer Fountain

Pulitzer Fountain

"Pomona" (1915-1916) sculpted by Karl Bitter and completed by Isadore Konti for the Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza. Rendering approved by the Art Commission May 12, 1913.

6

Pulitzer Fountain

Pulitzer Fountain

"Pomona" (1915-1916) sculpted by Karl Bitter and completed by Isadore Konti for the Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza. Photograph, undated.

7

Pulitzer Fountain

Pulitzer Fountain

"Pomona" (1915-1916) sculpted by Karl Bitter and completed by Isadore Konti for the Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza. Photograph, undated.

8

Pulitzer Fountain

Pulitzer Fountain

"Pomona" (1915-1916) sculpted by Karl Bitter and completed by Isadore Konti for the Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza. Photograph, undated.

9

Straus Park

Straus Park

"Isador and Ida Straus" (1915) sculpted by Augustus Lukeman. Photograph by De Will Clinton Ward, 1914.

10

Straus Park

Straus Park

"Isador and Ida Straus" (1915) sculpted by Augustus Lukeman. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1913.

11

Straus Park

Straus Park

"Isador and Ida Straus" (1915) sculpted by Augustus Lukeman. Photograph, ca. 1920s.

12

Manhattan Municipal Building

Manhattan Municipal Building

"Civic Fame" (1913) by Adolph Alexander Weinman. Photograph, 1911.

13

Manhattan Municipal Building

Manhattan Municipal Building

"Civic Fame" (1913) by Adolph Alexander Weinman. Photograph, 1911.

14

Manhattan Municipal Building

Manhattan Municipal Building

"Civic Fame" (1913) by Adolph Alexander Weinman. Statue restoration photograph by Gaston Dubois, June 1, 1989.

15

Manhattan Municipal Building

Manhattan Municipal Building

"Civic Fame" (1913) by Adolph Alexander Weinman. Statue restoration photograph by Gaston Dubois, June 1, 1989.

16

Manhattan Bridge

Manhattan Bridge

"Spirit of Commerce" (ca. 1914) by Carl Augustus Heber. Photograph by Oscar H. Sholin, 1913.

17

Manhattan Bridge

Manhattan Bridge

"Spirit of Commerce" (ca. 1914) by Carl Augustus Heber. Photograph by Oscar H. Sholin, 1914.

18

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

“Manhattan” (1916) by Daniel Chester French. Some modeling for this statue was also done by Rosalie Miller. The original statue was originally located at the Brooklyn approach to the Manhattan Bridge and has since been relocated to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1915.

19

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

“Manhattan” (1916) by Daniel Chester French. Some modeling for this statue was also done by Rosalie Miller. The original statue was originally located at the Brooklyn approach to the Manhattan Bridge and has since been relocated to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1915.

20

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

"Manhattan" (1916) by Daniel Chester French. Some modeling for this statue was also done by Rosalie Miller. The original statue was originally located at the Brooklyn approach to the Manhattan Bridge and has since been relocated to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1915.

21

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

"Brooklyn" (1916) by Daniel Chester French. Some modeling for this statue was also done by Rosalie Miller. The original statue was originally located at the Brooklyn approach to the Manhattan Bridge and has since been relocated to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1915.

22

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

"Brooklyn" (1916) by Daniel Chester French. Some modeling for this statue was also done by Rosalie Miller. The original statue was originally located at the Brooklyn approach to the Manhattan Bridge and has since been relocated to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1915.

23

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

“Brooklyn” (1916) by Daniel Chester French. Some modeling for this statue was also done by Rosalie Miller. The original statue was originally located at the Brooklyn approach to the Manhattan Bridge and has since been relocated to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1915.

24

Firemen's Memorial

Firemen's Memorial

"Duty" (1912) by Attilio Piccirilli for the Firemen's Memorial. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1912.

25

Firemen's Memorial

Firemen's Memorial

"Courage" (1912) by Attilio Piccirilli for the Firemen's Memorial. Photograph by A.B. Bogart, 1912.

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