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 "Pioneer Mother" monument, by Charles Grafly, is a permanent bronze,
a tribute by the people of the West to the women who laid the foundation
of their welfare. It is to stand in the San Francisco Civic Center,
where its masterful simplicity will be more impressive than in this
colorful colonnade. It is a true addition to noteworthy American works
of art and fully expresses the spirit of this courageous motherhood,
tender but strong, adventurous but womanly, enduring but not humble. It
has escaped every pitfall of mawkishness, stubbornly refused to descend
to mere prettiness, and lived up to the noblest possibilities of its
theme. The strong guiding hands, the firmly set feet, the clear, broad
brow of the Mother and the uncompromisingly simple, sculpturally pure
lines of figure and garments are honest and commanding in beauty. The
children, too, are modeled with affectionate sincerity and are a
realistic interpretation of childish charm. Oxen skulls, pine cones,
leaves and cacti decorate the base; the panels show the old sailing
vessel, the Golden Gate and the trans-continental trails. The
inscription by Benjamin Ide Wheeler perfectly expresses what the
sculptor has portrayed.
Lafayette
Exhibit, Fine Arts Rotunda
Paul Wayland Bartlett's "Lafayette," of which this is a plaster copy,
should be known and honored by every loyal American. It is considered by
many the most successful equestrian statue of modern times and it was
the gift of the school children of America to the Republic of France.
The original bronze stands in the Court of the Louvre, the most coveted
location in Paris. The position of honor among the sculpture exhibits
accorded to this copy, as the central piece in the Temple of Sculpture,
gives the impressive beauty of the "Lafayette" the distinction it
deserves. Seen at a little distance, with the background of the lagoon,
the superb bearing of both horse and rider get their full effect. This
interpretation of Lafayette, commanding, heroic, graceful,
unselfconscious, his Gallic dash and fire evident but restrained by
military and aristocratic control, is stirring and convincing. The
upheld sword is a touch of fine artistry. Mr. Bartlett was Chairman for
Sculpture of the Exposition Jury of Fine Arts. He has just completed the
pedestal heads for the House wing of the Capitol at Washington. His
"Dying Lion," exhibited in plaster copy in the Fine Arts garden, has
been coupled by critics with the "Wounded Lion" of Rodin.
Thomas Jefferson
Exhibit, Fine Arts Rotunda
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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