In one way more than any other, the sculpture here surpasses that of
other expositions: it is an integral part of the larger artistic
conception. It not only tells its individual stories freely and
beautifully, but it fits perfectly into the architectural scheme, adding
the decorative touch and the human element without which the
architecture would seem bare.
The late Karl Bitter was chief of the department of sculpture, and
although there is no single example of his work on the grounds, it was
he who, more than any other, insisted upon a close relationship between
the architecture and the sculpture. A. Stirling Calder was acting chief,
and he had charge of the actual work of enlarging the models of the
various groups and placing each one properly.
The material of the sculptures is the same as that of the buildings,
Travertine, thus adding to the close relationship of the two.