The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growthBarry, John D. (John Daniel)
History
The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth
Barry, John D. (John Daniel)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
Frieze on pavilions at corners of court, "Signs of the Zodiac," Atlas
and fourteen daughters, seven Pleiades and seven Hyades twelve bearing
plaques, by Herman A. MacNeil, of New York. On four sides of each of the
six dome-covered pavilions. The third figure from the end on either side
represents Electra. Sculptor, in modelling the form, put it on one side
and then reversed it on the other side. The daughters of Atlas: only
those representing signs of the Zodiac, have shields. On each shield is
one of the signs of the Zodiac. What the sculptor has designed on the
right is reversed on the left, securing absolute symmetry. The figures
are finely done and merit special attention.
Lamps around sunken garden. Women; the Canephori, priestesses who
carried baskets in ancient Greek religious festivals; men, suggestive of
Hermes, used by Romans at ends of roads. Instead of baskets, they all
carry jars.
"Fountain of the Rising Still." Ninety-foot column crowned by figure of
Rising Sun, by Adolph A. Weinman, of New York. Reliefs at base of
column, "Day Triumphant"; Time, Light, Truth, Energy, conquering
Falsehood, Vice, and Darkness. Ornamental figures under upper bowl
looking down into water, suggest Neptune, but are winged, "Spirit of the
Waters."
"Fountain of Setting Sun." Column with figure of Setting Sun, a woman;
called also "Descending Night." Reliefs at base of fountain, "Gentle
Powers of Night," with Dusk covering Labor, Love, and Peace, followed by
the Stars, Luna, Illusions, and Evening Mists.
Tritons in pools of Fountains of Rising and Setting Sun, by Weinman. Two
statues; one, triton struggles with snake; in the other, with fish. Two
duplicated in each pool.
Sheetlike appearance of water when full force of water is on; streams
from figures in pool, overflowing from bowl, spouting from lion heads
above frieze.
"The Elements," reclining figures at head of main stairs leading down to
sunken gardens by Robert Aitken, of New York. In size and treatment,
suggestive of Michael Angelo. Northeast, "Water," riding a wave, with
his trident in one hand, sea weed in the other. Northwest, "Fire," a
Greek warrior lies in agony, grasping fire and lightning, with Phoenix,
bird of flame, at back, and the salamander, reptile of fire, under his
right leg. Southeast, "Earth," a woman leaning against a tree,
apparently sleeping; at back two human figures struggle to uproot tree,
symbol of man's war with nature. Southwest "Air" woman holding star to
ear; birds, symbol of air; Icarus, mythological aviator who fell into
sea, tied to wings of woman, typifying man's effort to conquer the air.
Small lion fountains below "The Elements," by McKim, Mead & White.
Bandstand, Arabic; picturesque, but inharmonious; obstructs view through
entrance court.
Four tigers at base of bandstand, facing pool; decorative.
Court leading from gardens to Column of Progress. Designs repeated in
frieze and in jeweled lamps of shell design, McKim, Mead & White; fine
detail.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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