Focus on this artwork and explore the Description.
Six figures which stand at 18 feet high are on the main facade of the Union Station building. These granite sculptures are placed above three connected triumphal arches that make up the main entrance of the building. The six figures represent and mean:Archimedes – Mechanics
Ceres – Agriculture
Apollo – Imagination or Inspiration
Themis – Freedom or Justice
Thales – Electricity
Prometheus – FireThe east and west figures are meant to deal with the operational system behind railroads and the center figures represent creativity.The west section is inscribed:FIRE – GREATEST OF DISCOVERIES
ENABLING MAN TO LIVE IN VARIOUS CLIMATES
USE MANY FOODS – AND COMPEL THE
FORCES OF NATURE TO DO HIS WORKELECTRICITY – CARRIER OF LIGHT AND POWER
DEVOURER OF TIME AND SPACE – BEARER
OF HUMAN SPEECH OVER LAND AND SEA
GREATEST SERVANT OF MAN – ITSELF UNKNOWNTHOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEETThe center is inscribed:SWEETENER OF HUT AND OF HALL
BRINGER OF LIFE OUT OF NAUGHT
FREEDOM O FAIREST OF ALL
THE DAUGHTERS OF TIME AND THOUGHTMAN'S IMAGINATION HAS CONCEIVED ALL
NUMBERS AND LETTERS ALL TOOLS VESSELS
AND SHELTERS – EVERY ART AND TRADE ALL
PHILOSOPHY AND POETRY – AND ALL POLITIESTHE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREEThe east side is inscribed:THE FARM – BEST HOME OF THE FAMILY – MAIN
SOURCE OF NATIONAL WEALTH – FOUNDATION OF
CIVILIZED SOCIETY – THE NATURAL PROVIDENCETHE OLD MECHANIC ARTS CONTROLLING NEW
FORCES BUILD NEW HIGHWAYS FOR GOODS
AND MEN OVERRIDE THE OCEAN AND MAKE
THE VERY ETHER CARRY HUMAN THOUGHTTHE DESERT SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM
AS THE ROSETwo eagles also flank the left and right side of the arches.
Electricity Inspiration Prometheus Mechanics Archimedes Ceres Fire Thales facade Themis triumphal arches Freedom Imagination Union Station Agriculture Justice Apollo