Inspiration with a happy ending. . .

Palace Decline (Palace of Fine Arts) - 29" x 40" - watercolor

I was absolutely thrilled to read an item this week regarding the revamped Palace of Fine Arts. . .its Roman glory has been restored after a 7-year renovation in San Francisco.  I was moved to create the painting above after seeing this beloved landmark in such disrepair and neglect.  There was a chain stretched across the opening to the 1,100-foot-wide rotunda. . .the ceiling was falling down in bits and pieces and naturally deemed unsafe!  I arched over the chain to take a photo thinking how impressive it must have been in 1915, as it was built for the Panama Pacific International Exposition.  The Rotunda and 30 Corinthian columns along the walkway are truly not like anything else you see in America.       

After I returned home and started the painting, I researched the site and saw that a public-private partnership had been ignited to bring it back!  Would you believe that over the years the city parked vehicles in the Palace?  Not to mention trucks and jeeps during World War II.    

Here's my picture of the rotunda in early 2004:  

And here's the restored roof of its dome:

Some things are priceless.

Over the last 95 years there have been many efforts to preserve, protect and revitalize this landmark. . .the Exposition itself had over 18 million visitors in the nine months of its existence!  We're talking 1915!  My painting took well over a month to complete. . .it was large scale and I glazed the roof of the dome at least 30 times.  I'm happy to say it quickly found a beautiful home to reside in.  For me it felt like such a privilege to paint the Palace, even in its sad state.  To now know it's repaired and re-opened to the public so that it can continue its stately presence. . .well that's a beautiful thing and a happy ending.  If in the Bay area, you must visit.  And to read up on this piece of our history go to  http://www.lovethepalace.org/.