The Winged Victory is the fine decorative figure that crowns the gables
of all the palaces of the walled-city. It is broadly modelled, massive
and yet refined, and from any viewpoint stands out in beautiful
silhouette against the sky. It is by Louis Ulrich.
Palace of Varied Industries
Before turning to the more important south facade, it is well to look at
the east wall, with its dignified and colorful portal. This is Roman in
style of architecture, to harmonize with the Palace of Machinery
opposite. It is similar in general form to the memorial arches and
gateways of the Romans, but in the use of architectural motives and in
decoration it is of Italian Renaissance style. The niches at each end of
the gallery contain figures of The Miner, by Albert Weinert. The facade
is ornamented with buttresses at regular intervals, carrying figures of
the California Bear holding a scutcheon with the state seal.
Returning to the Avenue of Palms and the south facade, one sees the most
important artistic feature of the building, the central portal. This is
a copy, except for the figures filling the niches, of the famous doorway
of the Hospital of Santa Cruz at Toledo, Spain. It is in Spanish
Renaissance style, of that especially rich type known as "Plateresque,"
due to its likeness to the work of the silversmiths of the time.
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