New York Public Library Lions To Get $250K Restoration

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The pair of lion statues that have guarded the entrance of the New York Public Library's main branch in Bryant Park will be restored for $250,000, library officials announced Monday.

The lions — named Patience and Fortitude by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia during the Great Depression — need to be worked on every seven to 10 years, library officials said. The statues are currently in need of a cleaning and have several chips and cracks in need of repair.

"For over 100 years, they have stoically guarded our building on bustling Fifth Avenue, delighting visitors and providing calm hope at all times that with knowledge we will prevail... As great stewards of this building, it is critical that we maintain the lions and ensure that they are strong to inspire everyone for generations to come," New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx said in a statement.

The lions were carved out of Tennessee pink marble in the Bronx studio of the Piccirilli Brother in the early 1900s. The material is porous, which means the lions are subject to damage from elements such as snow, rain, wind and traffic exhaust, library officials said.

The $250,000 project is expected to begin Sept. 2, library officials said. Funds for the repairs were gifted to the library by The New York Life Foundation and private donations from more than 100 New York City residents.

Workers will cover the lions with plywood for at least nine weeks during the restoration project. Work being done on the statues includes filling cracks with grout, a full laser cleaning and reinforcements to prior repairs.

Patience and Fortitude were previously restored in 2011 and 2004.