Court of Four Seasons, Henry Bacon, of New York, architect. Hadrian's
Villa used as model for half-dome and columns in front of fountain.
Italian Renaissance in feeling. Every detail in classic spirit. Gives
impression of seclusion and peace.
Quotations on gateways chosen by Garnett. On the eastern gateway, "So
forth issew'd the seasons of the yeare - first, lusty spring all dight
in leaves and flowres - then came the jolly sommer being dight in a thin
cassock coloured greene, then came the autumne all in yellow clad -
lastly came winter cloathed all in frize, chattering his teeth for cold
that did him chill," from "The Faerie Queene," by Edmund Spenser. On the
western gateway, "For lasting happiness we turn our eyes to one alone,
and she surrounds you now, great nature, refuge of the weary heart and
only balm to breasts that have been bruised. She bath cool hands for
every fevered brow and gentlest silence for the troubled soul," from
"The Triumph of Bohemia," by George Sterling.
Palaces around court: northeast, Agriculture; northwest, Food Products;
southwest, Education; southeast, Liberal Arts.
Emerald pool. Surrounded by shrubbery. No sculpture. Architectural term,
a "black mirror." Fine reflections.
Planting, by McLaren, simple and effective. Trees, olive, acacia,
eucalyptus, cypress, laurel. All foliage, grey-green; banner poles same
color.
Banners, by Ryan; no heraldic designs.
Best view of court from between columns of Fountains of Spring or
Autumn.
Bulls at sides, above entrance to north court, "Feast of the Sacrifice,"
by Albert Jaegers, of New York. Youth and maiden leading bulls to
harvest festival, suggested by great garlands.
Roman eagles below bulls on four corners of north court.
Bull's head with festoons, skull motive, at base of corner pavilions at
four corners of north court, Roman.
Lion's head around cornice, designed by the architect, modelled by
artisans of Exposition.
Bulls' heads above cornices between festoons of flowers around court.
Roman motive.
Statue above south dome, "Harvest," by Albert Jaegers. Seated figure
with horn of plenty. Fruits and grains on either side.
"Abundance," statue repeated four times over each gateway, by August
Jaegers.
Vases repeated twenty-four times on balustrade around court; simple
design, in harmony with classic plan of court.
Wreaths above cornice around court, harvest motive, wheat and grape.
Figures in triangular spaces over three arches of each gateway,
repeated. By August Jaegers. Harvest motive.
In ceiling of east and west arches, faint relief, terra-cotta effect,
Greek designs; coloring, orange, faint greens, and browns.
Signs of zodiac on gateways, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces.
Half-dome to south, "Niche of Ceres." Rich coloring in vault, contrasted
with light tones in arched section.
Figures on composite columns at right and left of half-dome, "Rain" and
"Sunshine," Albert Jaegers. "Rain," a woman shielding head with mantle
and holding shell; "Sunshine," woman shading head from sun with palm
branch.
Capitals of columns of "Rain" and "Sunshine," agricultural figures,
small harvesters. Modelled by Donnelly and Ricci after designs of the
architect.
Pedestals at base of columns, agricultural scenes in low relief,
modelled by Donnelly and Ricci after designs of the architect. Farmers
going to work with women and children and dog.
In niches at corners of court, "Fountains of the Seasons," surmounted by
statue groups representing seasons, Furio Piccirilli, of New York.
Delicate pink tinting of walls in niches, by Guerin, in imitation of
pink marble.
Columns of colonnades, Ionic, with harvest suggestion in ears of corn
hanging from capitals, flower at top.
Flower boxes, in walls of niches near top and at top; African dew plant
hanging over edge; give note of age and break sharp outline of wall
against sky, and contrast with color of background.
Southwest corner, "Spring," by Piccirilli. Young woman with floral
garland, man adoring, Flora bringing flowers.
Northwest corner, "Summer," by Piccirilli. Group expresses fruition.
Woman brings child to husband. Laborer with first sheaf from field.
Northeast corner, "Autumn," by Piccirilli. Young woman carrying wine
jar, suggests fruitfulness. Harvest of fields and human race; one girl
offers grapes, other a child.
Southeast corner, "Winter," by Piccirilli. Bare tree at back; laborer
rests after tilling; one begins to sow, preparing for spring.
Murals in colonnades with fountains, by H. Milton Bancroft. Simple and
obvious, in the pagan spirit.