Does anyone know if this sculpture of Ferdinand De Soto is still around town?

It looks like it was featured at the Louisiana Exhibition, then could be found on a different pedestal in Forest Park, then at some point was moved (with the same pedestal) to Carondelet Park. Not sure if it's still there, somewhere else, or nowhere to be found at this point.

This literature suggests it was preserved in some way, but perhaps the above explanation is still correct.

https://books.google.com/books?id=rpUhA ... is&f=false

I certainly can't find any modern references to it.

This one states it was repaired and repainted in, I believe, 1908.

https://books.google.com/books?id=AA0tA ... rk&f=false

That it required such maintenance so shortly into it's life may again suggest Presby is right.

And finally, confirmation:

"The statue of DeSoto was destroyed by the elements and removed." This seems to be from 1908 or 1909.

https://books.google.com/books?id=PVg1A ... 's&f=false

Thanks for the info & leg work. So interesting, and kind of amazing that they just decided to display this one until the elements destroyed it.

I knew nearly all of the Worlds Fair sculptures were made of plaster, but hoped that this one wasn't and was somehow still around since it appeared to stick around - at least for a little while - after the fair. Too bad it and others like it weren't recast in bronze after the hoopla.

wabash wrote:Thanks for the info & leg work. So interesting, and kind of amazing that they just decided to display this one until the elements destroyed it.

I knew nearly all of the Worlds Fair sculptures were made of plaster, but hoped that this one wasn't and was somehow still around since it appeared to stick around - at least for a little while - after the fair. Too bad it and others like it weren't recast in bronze after the hoopla.

That raises kind of an interesting question. If these were made of plaster, that means they were cast themselves rather than sculpted. (I mean, technically it's still sculpting overall, but you know.) Right?

So... doubtful, but any chance any of those casts still exist?

^Excellent question.

Also, I wonder what - if any - sculptural pieces from that time the Art Museum has stashed away in its storage. If this photo of the Art Museum's main hall when it was the "sculpture hall" is any indication, there could be some 1904 originals tucked away somewhere:

The university museum at semo (in memorial hall) has a bunch of plaster statues from the fair. But I can't remember if they're recasts or originals