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 fountain niches of the Seasons in the Court of the Four Seasons are
graced by Milton Herbert Bancroft's appropriate panels. Two of these,
one on each wall of the fountain niche, are devoted to each season. One
represents the pleasures that that period of the year brings forth for
man; the other shows the duties it demands of him. In "Spring," we have
the poet's conception of the time of blossoms and garlands, of young
loves, piping shepherds and dancing maidens, while the goddess of the
season dreams of coming glories. In the companion panel, "Seedtime," the
waiting farmers attend her as she stands, sceptered with an Easter lily,
and extends her benison on the land. "Summer" crowns the victors in
athletic sports; while in "Fruition" the goddess of the season receives
the tribute of the successful workers of the soil. The panel called
"Autumn" is gay with the dance of the vineyard festival; three happy
figures modeled with grace and much refinement are placed on a
background divided into panels by a vine. But "Harvest" is quiet and
serious; the goddess, bearing the torch of Indian Summer, receives the
sheaves of the gleaners. So in "Winter," one panel shows Festivity, with
the old bard, the Christmas garland and the gaieties of the home; the
other, the distaff by the fireside, the huntsman and the wood-cutter.
Westward March of Civilization
Arch, Nations of the West
Decorating the inner walls of the Arch of the Setting Sun are two long,
colorful panels by Frank Vincent Du Mond, inspired by the historical
background of the West. They have refreshing vividness of color, clear
precision of draughtsmanship and a bright enthusiasm for their subject.
With a narrative quality unusual in a mural they commemorate the
adventurous spirit that led a stable civilization in the march across
the continent of America. In the panel, "Leaving the East," emigrants
depart from a barren, snowy coast, upon which stands the meeting-house,
source of so many national traditions. A youth bids farewell to his
sorrowing friends; a group of adventurers bearing the bare necessities
of life leads the way to the frontier. In the central group, surrounding
the old Concord wagon laden with household goods, appear the Jurist,
Preacher, Schoolmistress, the Child - Symbol of the Home - the Plains'
Driver and the Trapper. A symbolic figure, "The Call of Fortune,"
accompanies them. Some of the characters are actual portraits, as are
also the Artist, Writer, Scholar, Architect and Sculptor in the opposite
panel, "The Arrival in the West." In this the lavishness and opulence of
California welcome the pioneers. Mr. Du Mond is a member of the
International Jury of Awards in the Fine Arts Department of the
Exposition.
Discovery - The Purchase
Tower of Jewels
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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