View source for Carvings (Indiana State Library)

{{Short description|Sculptures by Leon Hermant}}
{{Infobox artwork
| image_file         = IndianaStateLibraryCarvings.jpg
| painting_alignment =
| image_size         = 300px
| title              = Carvings (Indiana State Library)
| alt                =
| other_language_1   =
| other_title_1      =
| other_language_2   =
| other_title_2      =
| artist             = [[Léon Hermant]]
| year               = 1934
| type               = [[Limestone]]
| height_metric      =
| width_metric       =
| length_metric      =
| height_imperial    = 80
| width_imperial     = 80
| length_imperial    = 5
| metric_unit        = cm
| imperial_unit      = in
| city               = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], [[United States]]
| museum             =
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 13
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|46|11|N|86|9|49|W|region:US}}
| owner              = [[Indiana State Library and Historical Building|Indiana State Library]]
}}
'''''Carvings (Indiana State Library)''''', is a series of [[relief|bas-relief]] [[limestone]] panels decorating the facade of the Indiana State Library in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], United States. The reliefs were designed by artist [[Léon Hermant]] and carved by German sculptor [[Adolph Wolter]] in 1934. The panels on the east facade are approximately {{Convert|80 x 80 x 5|in}}, the low panels on the east facade are approximately {{Convert|18 x 18 x 1+1/2|in}} inches, and the classical figures are each approximately {{Convert|3 x 2 x 1/4|ft}} . The library building was dedicated December 7, 1934.<ref name="SOS">{{cite web |author= |year=1993 |title=Indiana State Library (Carvings) |url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!340059~!0#focus |accessdate=11 April 2010 |work=[[Save Outdoor Sculpture!]] |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |archive-date=29 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329074415/http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!340059~!0#focus |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Description==
'''The Indiana State Library Carvings''' are a series of bas-relief limestone panels. Located beneath the cornice line on the east side of the building, ten square relief panels depict the founding and growth of the state of Indiana. The first panel, the Explorer, illustrates [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|La Salle]] at portage between the [[St. Joseph River (Maumee River tributary)|St. Joseph]] and [[Kankakee River]]s. The next panel, the Soldier, shows [[George Rogers Clark]] and the capture of [[Vincennes]]. The next panel depicts the Pioneer followed by a panel depicting the Farmer. Next is a panel depicting the Legislator and the signing of the [[Constitution of Indiana|state constitution]]; followed by panels of the Miner, the Builder, the Manufacturer, the Educator and the Aspiring Student. Above the ground floor windows, a second set of eight relief panels depict an Indian with a peace pipe, the Trapper, the Priest, the Pioneer, the Plainsman, Invention (a movie camera), Transportation (an airplane), and Arts (an artist with brushes and pencils).
On the south side of the building, individual figures represent: Science, History, Invention, and Religion. Figures on the north side represent: Philosophy, Art, Charity, and Justice. Above the building's entrance is an owl holding a book open with its proper left claw. On each side of the entrance is a seated female classical figure sitting back to back, each writing on a tablet with her proper right hand.<ref name= "SOS"/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Visual arts}}
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsavespublicart/4479579925/ Indiana State Library Carvings on Flickr]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060430055401/http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/SOS/index.html  Save Outdoor Sculpture!]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:1934 sculptures]]
[[Category:Limestone sculptures in Indiana]]
[[Category:Native Americans in art]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Owls in art]]
[[Category:Sculptures of birds in the United States]]
[[Category:Sculptures of books]]
[[Category:Sculptures of men in Indiana]]
[[Category:Sculptures of women in Indiana]]