"Aviation" octagonal, from the mural series "The Building of the House of Wisdom," Charlton Yarnall House

Object Details

Title:
"Aviation" octagonal, from the mural series "The Building of the House of Wisdom," Charlton Yarnall House
Date:
1910–11
Artist:
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
29 x 29 1/8 in
Classification
Murals
Credit Line:
Gift of the Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1963
Description

Arching over the lunette Man and Science were three octagonal panels celebrating the technological innovations that were shaping the new century: Communion throughout Space, The Search for Light, and Aviation.Aviation is inscribed, “They mount up with wings as eagles.” An aviator who has flown into the stars leans away from an eagle like Michelangelo’s Prophet Jonah shrinking from the whale. It was noted at the time that although Leonardo da Vinci had attempted flight in the Italian Renaissance, it was the Wright Brothers who achieved the first manned flight with their biplane in 1903, during the American Renaissance.

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. We invite you to share your ideas, knowledge, and stories as they relate to the art in our collection. Contact us here.

Please note that this particular work might not be on view when you visit.
Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.