Pop into the magnificent provincial archival building at Viger and Berri (across from that park full of junkies) you'll find these four 4.5 meter canephorae - the Greek word for maidens, which represent Industry, Transportation, Fishing and Agriculture.
They were done by NYC sculptor H. Augustus Lukeman in 1906 and stood 22 meters above street level at the front facade of the Provincial Bank of Canada 221 St. James Street W. in Old Montreal from 1908 until 1990. They cost $20,000 back then, big money at the time. Developers Mario Cytrynbaum and Brian Cytrynbaum took them away for repairs in 1990 and then left them at Entreposage Beloeil Inc. The owner sued them for $27,000 in unpaid storage bills. The Cytrynbaums - who were, and probably still are. extremely wealthy - were planning to place the artwork in a $100-million Hotel du Palais project at the northwest corner of St. Jacques and St. Francois Xavier Sts.
It was never built.
Some believe that the proper place for the statues - which were estimated a decade ago to be worth a mere $10 grand each at auction - really belong atop their original building, but I guess they're just as good indoors here, so pop by and peek at them if you get a chance but don't stand too close, because, as you should know, Transportation lost her arm in 1978 when cleaners sandblasted it a bit too hard. It fell off to the ground and killed the son of one of the board members.
RE the junkie park you mention here,
ReplyDeleteyears back I went through there and there was a mat and used condom under the jungle gym. Another time, there was a Speedo'd guy on top of the jungle gym. (You sure spend lots of time there - Chimples).
I don't think Fishing lost her arm, I think it was transportation - the one holding a train. The one with the fish hanging has both arms in tact.
ReplyDeleteThx Colin!
ReplyDelete