New York Public Library lions 'Patience' and 'Fortitude'

The two marble lion statues flanking the Fifth Avenue entrance of the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building were nicknamed 'Patience' and 'Fortitude' by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia during the 1930s. Sculpted by Edward Clark Potter and carved by the Piccirilli Brothers, they have stood at the 42nd Street entrance since the building opened in 1911. The lions are focal points of city folklore and tourist practices, including visitors routinely touching or posing with them. Their nicknames and iconic status are documented in library histories and contemporary guidebooks.