Existing comment:
Department of the Post Office Building:
Interior sculpture 1935-1937
During the final phase of the development of the Federal Triangle prior to World War II, the Section of Painting and Sculpture of the Treasury Department directed three projects involving architectural sculpture. Placed under the Public Works Branch of the Procurement Division, the Section of Painting and Sculpture was created by executive order on October 16, 1934. Whenever funds and space were available, the Section was to be in charge of embellishing all federal buildings constructed under the authority of the Treasury.
The embellishments of the Postmaster General's reception rooms was the first sculptural project carried out by the Section for a federal building in Washington. Fifteen sculptors were selected to execute works costing a total of $54,800 (in 1986 dollars, $432,194).
Paul Manship and William Zorach were given commissions for marble statues of Samuel Osgood, the first Postmaster General of the United States and Benjamin Franklin, statesman, respectively. Gleb Derujinsky was commissioned to executive eight portrait medallions in wood for the reception room. Twelve sculptors were selected through competitions to create the niche figures. |