The sculpture, like the mural paintings, deals in general with the
winning of the Americas and the achievement of the canal project.
Sculpture on the tower. As one stands in the South Gardens facing the
tower, one sees above the first cornice, reading from left to right,
four statues of The Adventurer, The Priest, The Philosopher, and The
Soldier. These finely realized figures, which are by John Flanagan,
represent four types of the early conquerors of America. On the next
story is a repeated equestrian statue of the Spanish Conqueror, called
The Armored Horseman, by F. M. L. Tonetti. These five statues are
repeated on the other three faces of the tower. There is much other
sculpture of a purely decorative sort, the motives used being those
usually found in triumphal monuments, such as eagles, wreaths, and the
beaks of ships with which the Romans ornamented the columns celebrating
their naval successes.
Equestrian statues at entrance. In front of the two side colonnades are
spirited equestrian statues. As one faces the tower, the figure at the
left is of Pizarro, who conquered the richest portion of South America
for Spain. This figure is heroically decorative, and is by Charles Carey
Rumsey. At the other side of the main arch is Charles Niehaus' vigorous
statue of Cortez, who won Mexico for Spain. This figure, carrying a flag
and pennon on a lance, and perfectly seated on the strong horse, has a
live sense of movement, and the whole group is informed with the spirit
of the lordly conqueror.
Fountains under the tower. Within the colonnades to east and west of the
main archway are respectively the Fountain of Youth and the Fountain of
El Dorado.
The Fountain of Youth consists of a central figure on a pedestal, and
two rounded side panels with figures in relief. Youth is symbolized as a
girl, an immature figure, beautifully modeled. She stands, perfectly
poised, among rising blossoms. On the pedestal are more flowers in
relief, and two dimly indicated half-figures of a man and woman may be
discovered. The side panels show old people being drawn away in ships
manned by cherubs-old people who gaze back wistfully at the Youth they
are leaving. Really the fountain is far more charming if one forgets all
but the central figure. There is in that a sweet tenderness, a maidenly
loveliness, that makes it the perfect embodiment of Youth-an
embodiment to be remembered with delight again and again.
The fountain was designed by Edith Woodman Burroughs.
The Fountain of El Dorado is on the other side of the archway, and is by
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. It represents, as a whole, mankind's
pursuit of the unattainable. The legend of El Dorado is that there once
lived in South America a prince, "The Gilded One," who had so much gold
that daily he had his body covered with gold dust. Many Spanish
explorers spent fruitless years in search of the fabulously rich country
of this prince. The idea of the fountain is that the Gilded One,
representing the unattainable, the advantages of wealth and power which
deluded men and women seek without value given to the world in return,
has just disappeared through the gateway, the gates closing after him.
On either side processions of seekers who have glimpsed the Gilded One,
strain toward the gateway. Some loiter in love or play, some drop from
fatigue, some fight their way along; and the first two, finding that the
pursuit is fruitless after all, have dropped to their knees in anguish.
The two standing figures beside the gates are said by the sculptor to
have no significance beyond the fact that they are "just guardians."
The fountain is notable for its symbolism and for the modeling of the
many nude figures. The panel on the right is especially decorative, and
has some notably fine individual figures and groups. The spirit of the
fountain, with its realism and its note of hopelessness, is not in
keeping with that pervading most of the Exposition sculpture. After
looking at the work for a time, turn and look back through the two
archways at the central figure of Youth at the other side. Certainly no
figure in the Fountain of El Dorado has the appeal and charm of that.