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
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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 lower portion, embracing the imposing arch and flanking colonnades,
is very dignified and quite satisfying. Standing close to the structure,
on the south side, so that one is conscious chiefly of this lower
portion, there comes the proper sense of nobility-the feeling that one
obtains from a successful triumphal arch. The chief fault of the tower
above is that it lacks the long lifting lines that would give a sense of
aspiration. It seems just a little squat and fat-as if it were too
heavy on top and splayed out at the sides and bottom. It is also
somewhat "showy," with too much hung-on ornament; and the green columns
against red walls are not satisfying-this being one of the very few
failures of the color scheme in the entire group of buildings.
At night the tower takes on a new and unexpected beauty. The outline
softens under the illumination, and the feeling of over-decoration and
broken lines is lost. The whole structure becomes a huge finger of
light, reaching up into the dark heavens-with softer indirect lighting
below, and glowing brilliantly above. Even the hundred thousand pendent
jewels, which at best are but flashy in the day time, add to the
exquisite fairy like effect at night. The illumination here is such,
indeed, that it must be one of the most impressive and lasting memories
to be carried away by the visitor.
The Tower of Jewels was designed by Thomas Hastings, of the firm Carrere
and Hastings of New York.
Sculpture
The sculpture, like the mural paintings, deals in general with the
winning of the Americas and the achievement of the canal project.
Sculpture on the tower. As one stands in the South Gardens facing the
tower, one sees above the first cornice, reading from left to right,
four statues of The Adventurer, The Priest, The Philosopher, and The
Soldier. These finely realized figures, which are by John Flanagan,
represent four types of the early conquerors of America. On the next
story is a repeated equestrian statue of the Spanish Conqueror, called
The Armored Horseman, by F. M. L. Tonetti. These five statues are
repeated on the other three faces of the tower. There is much other
sculpture of a purely decorative sort, the motives used being those
usually found in triumphal monuments, such as eagles, wreaths, and the
beaks of ships with which the Romans ornamented the columns celebrating
their naval successes.
Equestrian statues at entrance. In front of the two side colonnades are
spirited equestrian statues. As one faces the tower, the figure at the
left is of Pizarro, who conquered the richest portion of South America
for Spain. This figure is heroically decorative, and is by Charles Carey
Rumsey. At the other side of the main arch is Charles Niehaus' vigorous
statue of Cortez, who won Mexico for Spain. This figure, carrying a flag
and pennon on a lance, and perfectly seated on the strong horse, has a
live sense of movement, and the whole group is informed with the spirit
of the lordly conqueror.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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