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In The Park.. (Original Post) ._. 11 hrs ago OP
This message was self-deleted by its author George McGovern 5 hrs ago #1
Nice! Thanks for sharing. ...n/t CaliforniaPeggy 4 hrs ago #2
Beautiful, significant sculptures ._.! Excellent photos, fog notwithstanding. George McGovern 4 hrs ago #3

Response to ._. (Original post)

George McGovern

(11,382 posts)
3. Beautiful, significant sculptures ._.! Excellent photos, fog notwithstanding.
Tue Feb 24, 2026, 10:41 AM
4 hrs ago

According to googleimages —

The first image displays The Cider Press sculpture. This bronze sculpture was created by artist Thomas Shields Clarke and debuted at the Paris Salon in 1892 before being installed in San Francisco. 

It depicts a muscular man operating a cider press while a child kneels at the base. 

The work was originally designed to function as a public drinking fountain, with water flowing from the press into a bucket. 

It was purchased by M. H. de Young and presented to the city for the Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. 
***
The second photo features the bronze sculpture commonly known as the "Roman Gladiator" located in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 

Subject: While traditionally called a Roman Gladiator, recent research indicates the statue depicts King Leonidas of Sparta. 

Artist: The sculpture was created by Belgian artist Guillaume (Willem) Geefs in 1881. 

Location: It is situated in front of the de Young Museum in the Music Concourse area of Golden Gate Park. 

History: The statue was a gift from the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894.
***
The third image captures the "Golden Gate Sphinx" located in front of the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. 

Sculptor: The concrete sculpture was created by American artist Arthur Putnam around 1910. 

Purpose: It is one of a pair of sphinxes originally commissioned to match the Egyptian-revival architecture of the museum's predecessor building. 

Replacements: These concrete figures replaced earlier sculptures made of black granite or onyx that flanked the entrance in 1894. 

Location: The museum building seen in the background is the modern de Young Museum, which opened in 2005. 


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