Artwork Detail

Unknown

Artist: Napolitani, Livio

Object Date: 1966

Medium: Glass tile on cement

Imperial Dims: Overall: 150 x 273 in.

Department(s): Public Library

Supervisorial District: 1

About the Artwork:

Two Italian glass mosaic murals flank either side of the entrance to the Montebello Public Library. Designed by Livio Napolitani and executed by Casavan-Saivo Industries, these artworks were installed in 1966. The mural to the entrance’s left represents Science and the mural to the right, the Humanities. The trees in the lower section of each mural symbolize man’s initial ignorance and the symbols spaced throughout the murals signify disciplines which have added to human knowledge. Mural 1: Humanities: the library, as a repository of man's knowledge, hopes, dreams and aspirations, stands ready to provide books and materials to meet man's craving for knowledge. Mural 2: Science panel: the trees in the lower part of each panel represent man's ignorance. The individual symbols represent the various arts, cultures, sciences and disciplines which have guided man into the sunlight of knowledge and wisdom.