The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-06
Ba1ua1m's ColosSa/Hgzre Of Pan
Is Successfully Cast:

TIME colossal figure of Pan, by Mr..
George Grey Barnard. has been
successfully cast in bronze and
i lies waiting the final Furnishing at
the New York foundry-a metal
lurgical triumph. 1t is the first large
bronze to be cast entire, either in this
country or In Europe.
A corps of workmen was engaged for
eight months in preparing the mold,
which was composed of 100 pieces, and
weighed 1850 pounds, or about twenty
seven tons. The amount of bronze used
was 6450 pounds. The alloy was made
of 80 per cent copper, per cent tin and
2 per cent zinc. The composition was
melted in fifteen crucibles-seven of $50
pounds each and eight Of $50. The fires
were started at l a. m. on August ",
and at p. m. the casting took place.
There was not a hitch in the proceed
ings, nor was there flaw In the great
Pan" when the gates were taken from
1t and the huge body, with its support
ing knoll, was exposed to view. The
wood-god lies in a sportive yet indolent
attitude, resting on one arm with his
reed at his lips and his goat hoofs de-
pending over the knoll on which he
inches long and feet 3 inches wide
Standing erect it would be Is feet
inches high.
This Pan" was originally intended
for fountain figure to be placed in the
court yard of the Dakota Apartment
House, but the work was SO satisfac-
tory that it was considered worthier of
a larger recognition than could come
from it's proposed environment, and it
was accordingly presented to Central
Park. 1t was the gift of the late Alfred
Corning Clark, whose estate has so
literally carried out the intentions OF
its generous donor. The total cost OF
the gift is as yet conjectural; much will
depend upon its erection and the pedes-
tai used. Mr.. Frank Presby, the agent
of the estate, is quoted as saying that
it will exceed $25, 900. The casting alone
is said to have cost over $4,000. The site
has not been definitely determined, but
it will probably be in the vicinity of
Seventy or Eighty second street,
New York.
Mr.. Barnard's exhibit at the Champ
de Mars, Paris, was d remarkable de-
but. He was practically unknown. Even
his confreres at the BeauX Arts had lit
tie acquaintance with him or with his
work. He had a studio somewhere
few knew where-and he was differ
Champ de Mars jury seems to have
found his work different" Here was
an unknown man sending eight pieces,
and here was a jury of artist-judges
who, as is related, applauded each
piece as it was received and assigned
an important and conspicuous place in
the main hall to the exhibit The young
Sculptor's work was free, vital and In
dividual-the translation of force into
expression, Upon this man, unknown
when the exhibition opened, the I'M
usual istinctiOn-unusual because he
was debutant-was conferred of an
election as associate of the Societe Ma
tional de BeauX Arts.
During his student days in Paris he
had large studio, over which was his
sleeping apartment Wholly absorbed
in his work, he avoided making any So
cial ties. His impressions of types he
got by walking the streets. In every
possible way he gave himself up to his
art impulses. 1t is related of him that
one night, when he was modelling 1.-THE
Two Natures he arose in his sleep,
came down the long, irregular STAIR
ways and landings that led from his
sleeping apartment to his studio and
in trance went to work on 1.-The Two
Natures" There have been dream
poems" and dream pictures" but here
is a dream scuIpt"
Within a comparatively short time
after his debut he returned to this
country. He has his studio on the Fort
Washington boulevard. Mr. Barnard
has chung steadily to his ideals and has
refused important commissions rather
than feel obliged to hurry his work
Among commissions which he has de-
clined was one for ten colossal figures
for the Congressional Library in Wash
1ngton, which he was asked to execute
in ten months. bad art is worse than
bad food" was his comment.
Mr.. Barnard is a Pennsylvania, but
spent most his younger years near Chi
cago, where his father had a parish.
Before his fifteenth year he was sue
cessively a geologist, taxidermist and
a jewelers. engraver. At ten he could
classify stones geologically. He then
took up taxidermy, and while still a
mere boy was elected taXidermist to the
Academy of Sciences in Iowa. AT the
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