Leaving the Court of Abundance eastward through the Court of Mines, visitors were drawn on by 'the lure of Daniel Chester French's group, the Genius of Creation' (Todd). It stood before the grand portico of the Machinery Palace, 'looking down the main axis of the Exposition buildings,' as the far eastern accent of the long vista that ran through the courts to the Palace of Fine Arts.
Barry's handbook describes the composition: a spirit above, 'creating life from shapeless mass of earth below,' with a man at the left, 'courageous and enterprising,' a woman at the right, 'timid, hesitating,' and a serpent, symbol of wisdom, coiled about the mass. French was among the artists at Karl Bitter's first New York meeting on the exposition sculpture in January 1913.
At a glance
- The Official Guide places it at the 'Western Plaza Front of Machinery Palace.'
- A 1915 photograph of the figure of Eve from the group survives on Commons (Underwood & Underwood).
Afterward
Not recorded as preserved; presumably destroyed with the other staff sculpture when the grounds were cleared in 1916 (Todd vol. 5).
Where it stood
The Genius of Creation stood at about 37.80417 N, 122.43661 W on today's map. The whole fairground over the city →
Sources
- Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. 2, ch. LIII, ch. LXI
- Barry, The City of Domes (1915), Palace of Machinery notes
- Official Guide of the PPIE (1915), sculpture list