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 main pedestal of the statue is a globe, representing the earth. This
is supported by a series of figures of mermaids and mermen. The Eastern
and Western Hemispheres are represented by figures reclining on the
globe, the one to the east a cat-headed woman, the one to the west a
bullheaded man. The band, decorated with aquatic figures, which
encircles the globe, suggests the final completion of a waterway about
the earth.
Energy, the Victor, the surmounting group, typifies the indomitable
spirit that has achieved the building of the Canal. The nude figure of
Energy with arms outstretched rides a horse through the waves, while on
his shoulders stand smaller figures of Valor (with a wreath) and Fame
(with a sword) heralding the triumph. These small figures are
unfortunate they hardly belong, and instinctively one is worried for
their equilibrium.
The whole fountain is instinct with energy, and expresses joyous
achievement, as was meant. Moreover it is remarkable in its breadth of
conception, in imaginative interpretation of the theme. But it lacks
that sense of repose which would make it intimately satisfying.
The fountain was designed by A. Stirling Calder.
Palaces Facing the Avenue of Palms
The adoption of the "walled-city" plan for the Exposition meant the
grouping of the more imposing architectural effects in the interior
courts, the outer facades simply forming parts of a practically
continuous wall about the whole. Inspired by Spanish architecture of the
Renaissance, the intention was to keep the wall spaces in general quite
bare, concentrating the decorative effects in rich "spots" at carefully
chosen intervals. Thus the outer facades of the central group of palaces
combine a simple general form with a series of richly ornamental
portals. The architect who as entrusted with the designing of the wall
and all the portals was W. B. Faville of Bliss and Faville.
Certain architectural and sculptural units are repeated throughout the
central group. Each building has a low central dome, seldom seen when
one is close to any of the main buildings, but adding greatly to the
decorative effect from a slight distance. These domes are of Byzantine
style, and are colored in harmonizing shades of green and pink. The
small repeated corner domes add another Eastern touch, and are
especially effective at night. The outer wall is edged all the way
around with a simple cornice and a few rows of dull red tiles,
distinctly Southern in feeling, and therefore harmonizing with both the
Spanish and the Italian Renaissance doorways.
The Winged Victory is the fine decorative figure that crowns the gables
of all the palaces of the walled-city. It is broadly modelled, massive
and yet refined, and from any viewpoint stands out in beautiful
silhouette against the sky. It is by Louis Ulrich.
Palace of Varied Industries
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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