Palace of Fine Arts - San Francisco. A magnificent structure I just visited.

Today I am sharing a few shots I took at The Palace of Fine Arts. I have wanted to see this magnificent structure for the longest time. I believe that is Roman in style, but also Greek if I look at the decorations. It has a very romantic feeling. But of course, it can be freely-interpreted...

It was originally constructed by Bernard Ralph Maybeck who was an American architect in the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century.

It was meant to be for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in in 1915 order to exhibit works of art presented there. He used temporary materials such as staff, a combination of plaster and burlap fiber.

Unfortunately, the palace didn't survive long and in 1964 was completely demolished. And for good! Only the steel structure of the exhibit hall was left standing. Buildings were then reconstructed in permanent, light-weight, poured-in-place concrete, and steel I-beams were hoisted into place for the dome of the rotunda.

The lagoon was was inspired by classical European settings. The water works as a mirror and reflects the grand buildings and vista to be appreciated from a distance. A beautiful swam was flirting with the camera! Such an amazing feeling...

The Palace of Fine Arts has rich ornamentation. It is exquisite! I took many shots to capture details that will be in a photo gallery soon. A link to it will be here on my blog. I want you to see it.

All the decorations and sculptures were constructed anew.

Don't you love these pink columns? Look at the size of them...see how small I look?

The ornamentation was done by two sculptors: Bruno Louis Zimm who did the three repeating panels around the rotunda. They symbolize "The Struggle for the Beautiful". He gave it a Greek touch.

And Ulric Ellerhusen created the weeping women atop the colonnade and the sculptured frieze and allegorical figures symbolizing Contemplation, Wonderment and Meditation.

The fabulous dome of the Palace of Fine Arts is just outside the Exploratorium and the adjacent lagoon. It has been used in films.

 Film  

Vertigo (1958) - Alfred Hitchcock's.  
Time After Time (1979). 
The Rock (1996).  
The Bachelor (1999).
My Name Is Khan (2010 Bollywood Film)

Just to name a few...

Television  

The Streets of San Francisco 
Monk

And more...

To learn more about the Palace of Fine Arts history and reconstruction visit this site here.

Stay tuned for more discoveries in San Francisco!

Participating in Beverly's Pink Saturday. Visit blog "How Sweet the Sound" for more fabulous Pinkness! Thanks so much for visiting me today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Product designer and instructor Gabriela Delworth designs and develops high-end products for leading arts and crafts manufacturers and publications {books, magazines in print and online}.
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