Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, occupying 22 acres between 48th and 51st Streets. The Rockefeller family commissioned the original 14 Art Deco buildings, which are located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues around a sunken square and a private street called Rockefeller Plaza.
The Art Deco sculpture Wisdom by Lee Lawrie is a prominent architectural relief located above the main entrance of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and is visible from Fifth Avenue. It depicts a commanding nude male figure with a long windswept beard, symbolizing the creative power and accumulated knowledge of the universe. Wisdom holds a compass in his right hand, scribing a circle, while his left hand parts clouds of ignorance, embodying humanity’s philosophical and scientific insight. Below the figure is the biblical inscription from Isaiah 33:6: “Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.” The sculpture is flanked by two complementary figures, Sound and Light, which represent cosmic forces vital to human advancement and technology. The work was painted and gilded by Léon-Victor Solon, adding vibrant colors to the limestone relief. This trio symbolizes the promise of science and technology while subtly referencing Judeo-Christian themes
 
Interesting facts...
During World War II, it was a hub of espionage. The FBI operated covertly inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza under the cover name “Importers and Exporters Service Company,” gathering intelligence on Axis spies and sabotage. British Security Coordination also ran spy operations from Rockefeller Center, using it for propaganda and intelligence against Nazi Germany