In the Shadow of the Wood

In the Shadow of the Wood by artist Paul Santoleri visually tells the story of the Irish folk song “Finnegan’s Wake,” the namesake of the establishment on which the mural is situated. It depicts a central tree, which carries dual significance: it reflects the importance of trees to the founders of Philadelphia, who wanted to create a “Greene Countrie Towne;” and it reflects the flavor and heritage of the Irish pub/restaurant whose wall it graces – the name of Ireland comes from a Gaelic word meaning “land of trees.” The interlocking roots of the tree symbolize the inter-connectedness of humanity to nature; and as you pass under them you enter the pub to hear music and socialize.

The figures in the mural tell the tale of “Finnegan’s Wake” (also the name of the pub), who, the story goes, went to bed one night after an evening of heavy indulgence at the pub and upon awakening, fell to what appeared to be his death when he attempted to alight the ladder down from his loft. His friends prepared him for his funeral, but at his wake he opened his eyes – alive – and duly joined the party. The artist, Paul Santoleri, did not depict all elements of the story, but notably included a horse drawing a cart with coffins stacked upon and behind it, an homage to the fact that the building in which the pub is situated was at one time a casket factory. The artists also meant this as a reference to the many caskets coming home from the current wars, as well as those from prior wars and those we never see at all.

The group of revelers on the right side of the mural are the dancers and musicians at the wake, soon to be joined by Finnegan. Throughout the mural are various Celtic symbols, a graveyard on the side, harps and knots and woven roots.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location (painted out in 2019).