Corinthian Columns and Carved Figures, Palace of Fine Arts
These towering Corinthian columns stand just beyond the central rotunda of San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, crowned with sculpted female figures gazing inward in quiet contemplation. Designed by architect Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the intricate capitals and reliefs draw inspiration from Greco-Roman traditions. The overcast sky creates a muted backdrop that highlights the sculptural detail, while the manicured lawn and curved paths below soften the monumentality. This quiet corner of the Palace feels both formal and serene—an architectural pause between grandeur and garden, where historic ornament meets California calm.
Corinthian Columns and Carved Figures, Palace of Fine Arts
These towering Corinthian columns stand just beyond the central rotunda of San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, crowned with sculpted female figures gazing inward in quiet contemplation. Designed by architect Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the intricate capitals and reliefs draw inspiration from Greco-Roman traditions. The overcast sky creates a muted backdrop that highlights the sculptural detail, while the manicured lawn and curved paths below soften the monumentality. This quiet corner of the Palace feels both formal and serene—an architectural pause between grandeur and garden, where historic ornament meets California calm.