A fascinating art mystery has captured the attention of local historians after a 150-pound limestone bust was unearthed in a San Francisco backyard. Homeowners Greg Gatwood and Judy Gittelsohn made the startling discovery while simply performing routine landscaping work on their property.
The origins of the sculpture remain completely unknown, though Marin County and Bay Area art experts are currently eyeing a potential connection to prominent regional creators. Unraveling this hidden piece of local history adds a thrilling layer to our understanding of early twentieth-century California artists.
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Uncovering a Lost Masterpiece
The hefty sculpture features a woman’s head and neck rising from a rectangular base, measuring roughly 22 inches wide and 18 inches high. Because the sophisticated piece lacks any signature or official documentation, art professionals note that identifying the exact creator will be exceedingly difficult.
Before planning your next historical excursion using our helpful travel tools, consider the incredible journey local art takes across the bay. It is fascinating how pieces from the region’s rich cultural past can hide beneath our feet for decades.
The Ralph Stackpole Connection
Gittelsohn strongly suspects the bust was crafted by prominent twentieth-century San Francisco artist Ralph Stackpole or one of his talented art students. Their Russian Hill property sits directly across the street from the former building of the California School of Fine Arts sculpture department.
Historians suggest the piece could also potentially be linked to Stackpole’s noted protégés, Adeline Kent or Helen Phillips. Another compelling theory is that the bust might have originally been featured as an exhibit at the famous 1939–1940 Golden Gate International Exposition.
It remains an absolute mystery why or how such a heavy limestone artwork ended up buried underground. Rather than turning the artifact over to a museum immediately, Gatwood is currently building a custom pedestal to display the sculpture proudly in their yard.
Here is the source article for this story: This Couple Found a Mysterious 150-Pound Sculpture Buried in Their Backyard. Now, They’re Trying to Figure Out Who Made It
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