An Art-Lovers Guide to the Exposition: Explanations of the Architecture, Sculpture and Mural Paintings, With a Guide for Study in the Art GalleryCheney, Sheldon
History
An Art-Lovers Guide to the Exposition: Explanations of the Architecture, Sculpture and Mural Paintings, With a Guide for Study in the Art Gallery
Cheney, Sheldon
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
The Fountain of the Rising Sun is at the east end of the sunken garden.
Its tall shaft is surmounted by the figure of a youth typifying the
Rising Sun-a figure of irresistible appeal. The morning of day and the
morning of life, the freshness of the dawn and the aspiration of youth--
these things are remarkably suggested in the figure. With head up and
winged arms outstretched, the youth is poised on tiptoe, the weight
thrown forward, as if just on the point of soaring.
The Fountain of the Setting Sun is just opposite, at the west end of the
sunken garden. The surmounting figure here, though officially called
"The Setting Sun," is more appropriately named "Descending Night"-the
title the artist has given to the bronze replica in the Fine Arts
gallery. The closing in of night-that is what is so perfectly
suggested in the relaxed body, the folding-in wings, and the remarkable
sense of drooping that characterizes the whole statue. There is, too, an
enveloping sense of purity and sweetness about the figure.
These two statues which surmount the Fountains of the Rising Sun and the
Setting Sun are among the most charming sculptures at the Exposition.
They have not the strength of the figures of the Elements, or the
massive nobility and repose of the Genius of Creation, or the purely
modern native appeal of the works of Stackpole and Young and Fraser. But
for those of us who are sculpture lovers without asking why, they come
closer to our hearts and dwell more intimately in our minds than any of
these. "Descending Night" especially has a sensuous charm of graceful
line, a maidenly loveliness, that appeals irresistibly. Both figures are
by Adolph A. Weinman.
Above the higher basin of each fountain the column drum is decorated
with figures in relief. While the two friezes are meant to be decorative
primarily, the artist has employed in each case a symbolism in keeping
with the crowning figure. The frieze in the Fountain of the Rising Sun
represents "Day Triumphant." The symbolic figures typify the awakening
of man's finer instincts and energies at the call of the morning, and
the shrinking of the vices when the darkness of night gives place to the
light of day. The relief-frieze of the "Fountain of the Setting Sun" is
entitled "The Gentle Powers of Night." It represents Descending Night
bringing with her the Stars, the Moon-goddess, Dreams, and similar
beautiful things. The lower basins of both fountains contain figures of
centaurs (a new sea-variety, with fins) holding sea-monsters.
Groups surmounting arches. The monumental groups surmounting the two
triumphal arches are "The Nations of the East," on the Arch of the
Rising Sun, and "The Nations of the West," on the Arch of the Setting
Sun. The symbolic idea behind the two compositions thus placed facing
each other, is that of the nations of the Eastern and Western
Hemispheres at last meeting on this Pacific shore.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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