The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international expositionPerry, Stella G. S. (Stella George Stern)
General
The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international exposition
Perry, Stella G. S. (Stella George Stern)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.); Sculpture, American
The Four Elements, heroic pieces by Robert I. Aitken, are placed at the
top of the main stairways leading down into the sunken gardens of the
Court of the Universe. In spite of their imaginative themes, these
massive works have the same gripping reality that characterizes all the
later method of this sculptor. He has treated the elements, especially
"Earth" and "Air," in their relation to man. As here pictured, "Earth,"
the quiet mother, sleeps on her rocks, over which little human beings
struggle and toil. The rear view of "Air," the group on the opposite
side of the same stairway, may be seen in the foreground of the plate
illustrating The Nations of the East. "Air" holds a star in her hair;
she has great wings and is attended by floating sea-gulls. Behind her, a
man has strapped his arms to her mighty pinions, signifying the effort
of the present age to ride the winds. "Fire" and "Water," across the
gardens, are shown in vivid action; "Fire" roaring with his salamander,
and "Water" blowing a stormy gust across the waves.
The Signs of the Zodiac
Frieze on the Corner Pavilions
Low relief, the form that is so difficult and so beautiful and
satisfying when perfectly achieved, is at its finest in the sculptured
mural panels that crown the corner pavilions of the Court of the
Universe and the Forecourt of the Stars. These are the panels of "The
Signs of the Zodiac," by Hermon A. MacNeil, who is better known to
Exposition visitors by his finial group, "The Adventurous Bowman," on
the Column of Progress. The idea of the overhanging, serene heavens,
expressed by the Star Colonnade, is extended by these panels. About the
central figure of Atlas or Time, his heavenly daughters move, bearing
the Zodiacal symbols, to indicate the sweep of the constellations and
the onward march of time. This impression of the steady, slow passage of
our days is increased by the gentle motion of the figures, so slight as
to be felt rather than seen. The frieze has a clean-cut effect almost
cameo-like in its precision and the harmony and grace of the whole
composition have frequently been found suggestive of the decorations on
an Attic urn.
Nations of the West
Group, Arch of the Setting Sun
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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