Produced by David A Schwan
An Art-Lover's Guide to the Exposition
Explanations of the Architecture, Sculpture and Mural Paintings, With a
Guide for Study in the Art Gallery
By Sheldon Cheney
BerkeleyAt the Sign of the Berkeley Oak1915
Copyright 1915 by Sheldon Cheney
Printed and Engraved by Sunset Publishing House San Francisco
Contents
Foreword
The Architecture and Art as a Whole
Court of Abundance
Court of the Universe
Court of the Four Seasons
Court of Palms and Court of Flowers
Tower of Jewels, and Fountain of Energy
Palaces Facing the Avenue of Palms
Palaces Facing the Marina, and the Column of Progress
Palace of Machinery
South Gardens, Festival Hall, and Palace of Horticulture
Palace of Fine Arts
Outdoor Gallery of Sculpture
Fine Arts Galleries
State and Foreign Buildings, and Scattered Art Exhibits
Index
Foreword
This handbook is designed to furnish the information necessary forintelligent appreciation of the purely artistic features of theExposition. It is planned first to explain the symbolism of thearchitecture, sculpture and painting; and second, to point out thespecial qualities that give each artistic unit its individual appeal. Itis made for the intelligent observer who, having enjoyed the purelyaesthetic impression of the various works of art, feels a legitimatecuriosity about their meaning.
Everything possible has been done to make the volume a guide rather thanmerely a general treatise. The chapter groupings are the most obviouslyserviceable ones. Running heads will be found at the tops of the pages,and the sub-headings and catch-titles in each chapter are designed tomake reference. to individual features as easy as possible. A completeindex is added at the end.
Purely destructive criticism and ridicule have been carefully avoided.But if the writer did not pretend to a power of artistic discriminationwhich is lacking in the average layman who has not specialized in artand architecture, there would be little excuse for preparing the guide.The praise and criticism alike are such, it is hoped, as will aid theless practiced eye to see new beauties or to establish sounder standardsof judgment.
Acknowledgment is made to the official Exposition press bureau forcourtesies received, and to those artists who have supplied informationabout their own work. For obvious reasons no material has been accepteddirect from articles and books already published. If certainexplanations of the symbolism seem familiar, it is only because allwordings of the ideas echo the artists' interpretations as given out bythe press bureau.
Acknowledgment is due also to the Cardinell-Vincent Company, officialphotographers, since most of the illustrations are from their prints.
The Architecture and Art as a Whole
In the art of the Exposition the great underlying theme is that ofachievement. The Exposition is being held to celebrate the building ofthe Panama Canal, and to exhibit to the world evidences of the progressof civilization in the decade since the last great exposition-a periodamong the richest in the history of civilization. So the ideas ofvictory, achievement, progress and aspiration ar