Portia

Attilio and Furio Piccirilli
1918; Marble; Architectural Feature
Central Campus; In niche above front entrance of Martha Cook Residence

Portia was Shakespeare’s greatest lawyer (from Merchant of Venice). At the time it was carved it was the only known representation of the subject in marble (and may still be so). Gift of William Cook, donor of the building. The Piccirilli Studio in the Bronx was the largest artist’s studio in America at the time Portia was sculpted. Attilio was the most well known of the six Piccirilli brothers who worked in this studio.