Civic Virtue Triumphant Over Unrighteousness (1909–1922) is a sculpture group and fountain in New York City, created by sculptor Frederick William MacMonnies and architect Thomas Hastings, and carved by the Piccirilli Brothers.
The 17-foot sculpture group depicts a heroic-sized male nude, "Civic Virtue" (often mistaken for "Hercules"), with sword on shoulder, standing above two writhing female figures – the sirens of "Vice" and "Corruption."
Even before its completion, the sculpture was controversial because of its treatment of the female figures: "[MacMonnies's] conflation of the public (municipal) and personal (psychological) disturbed many people.
[4] MacMonnies later answered the critics of his sculpture:[This quote needs a citation] "What do I care if all the ignoramuses and quack politicians in New York, together with all the damn-fool women get together to talk about my statue?
[9] Former Congressman Anthony Weiner, in the first public event of his unsuccessful campaign for mayor of New York City, held a press conference at the fountain on February 25, 2011.
[11] The sculpture group, without the pedestal and pool of the Angelina Crane Fountain,[citation needed] was removed from Queens Borough Hall on December 15, 2012,[12] and relocated to the cemetery grounds in Brooklyn.