Golden Gate Park – General Pershing

 Posted by on March 5, 2012
Mar 052012
 
Golden Gate Park
Music Concourse

A tribute to General Pershing and the victorious armies of the United States and her co-belligerents during the World War 1914-1918
Presented by Dr. Morris Herzstein 1922

Bronze by Haig Patagian

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Haig Patigian is noted for his classical works, which are especially numerous in public venues in San Francisco, California. Patigian was born in Van, Armenia, which at that time was under Turkish rule. Haig was the son of Avedis and Marine Patigian. His parents, teachers in a missionary school, wanted their two sons to find freedom in the growing United States. When Patigian’s father was accused of creating propaganda for the Russian government — he was an artist, photographer — he took the opportunity to flee to the West.

They settled outside of Fresno. After working on a few farms in the area, the father found himself able to buy a ranch and a vineyard to establish his family. The parents, both believing passionately in art, encouraged the two boys to develop their artistic skills. And living in a peaceful community, Patigian developed quite well.

By the time he was 17 (around 1893), Patigian had found an apprenticeship painting signs. He painted the natural scenery, working with watercolors and oils. He soon had his own shop, once he put some money aside he moved to San Francisco, his older brother already worked in San Francisco as an illustrator. And in 1900, Patigian found employment at the San Francisco Bulletin as an illustrator.

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  4 Responses to “Golden Gate Park – General Pershing”

  1. gina says:
    March 5, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    War was so much simpler then and generals were heroes. The artist’s bio is interesting. Artistic talent does seem to run in families.

  2. Lowell says:
    March 5, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    I love the stories you tell! WWI was, in some ways, worse than WWII, what with mustard gas, and the paucity of good medical care.

    This is an excellent sculpture – so precise and clean and detailed…a great likeness, too, although I did not know Pershing personally! 🙂

    The new site is up and working and we’ll be posting on our blogs on that site after today…

  3. RedPat says:
    March 5, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    So much great classical sculpture in this park!

  4. AVCr8teur says:
    March 6, 2012 at 4:22 am

    I wonder if the General sat for him to sculpt this statue or if Patigian do it from a photograph. Quite impressive!

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