San Diego Public Library

Hord Exhibit ~ Public Works ~ Complete works ~ Chronology

 

Literature panels, 1953

The left panel represents ancient Mediterranean cultures. The Sumerian, holding a cuneiform tablet, gave us the first libraries, the earliest historical records, epic poems and the first account of the deluge. The Egyptian, with his papyrus scroll, was foremost in engineering, architecture, and many other fields. Papyrus was the first known writing material resembling paper, and was in use as early as 4000 B.C. The central seated figure, playing his lyre, is Greek. Hellenistic Greece produced epic poetry, philosophy, art, architecture, libraries, museums, mathematics and astronomy. The Greek language was the vehicle for the New Testament.

The panel on the right represents ancient Asian cultures. The Chinese with his scroll represents the Chou period when the Chou annals were kept at Lo Yang. It was at Lo Yang that Confucius met Lao Tzu, who is recorded as being the librarian some 500 B.C. The Chinese originated the printed book. The Persian with his harp, derived from a bronze of Azerbaijan, was the transmitter of culture between far Asia and the classic world. With the tri-lingual inscription on the Behistun cliff, Darius the Great made it possible for modern scholars to decipher the cuneiform writing of ancient Mesopotamia. India, the central figure holding a bamboo leaf book, was the most active cultural factor of far Asia. The civilizing effect of Indian philosophy, books, art and architecture spread as far north as Korea and Japan and through Sumatra to Bali.

The lower figure in both panels is the modern student and the book. In the upper corner symbols of our solar system are shown as the culminating scheme in the composition of each panel.

The sculptures were first molded in clay and later cast in concrete. A diorite aggregate gives them their dark grey color. They were a gift to the library from Mr. and Mrs. John P. Dexter.

It would seem that the first two photos below are the clay models.

• Right panel under construction (Hord at left, Dana at right)
• Left panel under construction
• Panel being hoisted into place on library