A San Francisco couple unearthing a 150-pound limestone sculpture buried in their Russian Hill backyard has sparked a search for its creator, according to Fox News Digital. Greg Gatwood found the two-foot-wide artifact in May while doing yard work, initially mistaking the object for concrete before spotting lips and a nose peering through the dirt.
Backyard Discovery in Russian Hill
Greg Gatwood was attempting to pry the hidden object loose with a shovel and a pickaxe when he uncovered the face, according to Fox News Digital. His partner, Judy Gittelsohn, expressed shock upon seeing the enormous, two-foot-wide statue. Gatwood told Fox News Digital that he considered breaking the heavy piece into smaller pieces before realizing it was a statue, describing the moment as cinematic. Gittelsohn called the find an enormous discovery and noted the impressive craftsmanship involved.
Possible Connections to WPA Art and Ralph Stackpole
Gittelsohn, who is a professional artist, researched the sculpture and believes it dates back to the 1930s, potentially linking to artists working under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), according to Fox News Digital. The couple’s home sits directly across the street from the former San Francisco Art Institute. Prominent sculptor and muralist Ralph Stackpole taught at the institute for decades, leading the couple to suspect a connection to him or his students.
Did you know? Ralph Stackpole was one of San Francisco’s leading artists during the 1920s and 1930s, leaving a permanent mark on the city’s architectural and artistic landscape through prominent installations at Coit Tower and the historic Stock Exchange building.
Evaluating Materials and Local Echoes
Gittelsohn pointed out that the sculpture is carved from relatively inexpensive limestone rather than marble or granite, which supports the theory of a working artist or student project, according to Fox News Digital. Gittelsohn told NBC News that Stackpole’s disciples frequently utilized a distinct visual language featuring flattened noses and broad faces, traits she sees reflected in the mysterious backyard find. Gatwood suggested the statue may have originally served as garden art before becoming lost and eventually covered by dirt and overgrown brush over time.
Public Display and Past Precedents
Following public attention generated by the find, a 93-year-old woman traveled to the couple’s home with a walker after previously holding a show featuring Ralph Stackpole’s work, according to Fox News Digital. To gather more answers, Gatwood and Gittelsohn plan to put the sculpture on public display in September at the American Messenger Gallery in hopes that visitors might recognize the piece or identify the artist. This discovery follows a similar incident a year prior in New Orleans, where Daniella Santoro and Aaron Lorenz unearthed an ancient Roman funerary artifact in their backyard that had been missing from an Italian museum for decades, as reported by Fox News Digital.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the limestone sculpture found?
The 150-pound sculpture was discovered buried in the backyard of a home in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, according to Fox News Digital.
Who discovered the statue?
Greg Gatwood unearthed the sculpture while doing landscaping work in May, with his partner Judy Gittelsohn present, as reported by Fox News Digital.
Why do the owners suspect Ralph Stackpole?
The couple’s home is located across the street from the former San Francisco Art Institute where Stackpole taught for decades, and the sculpture shares stylistic similarities with the Art Deco era, according to Fox News Digital.
Where can the public view the sculpture?
The couple plans to display the sculpture publicly in September at the American Messenger Gallery, according to Fox News Digital.
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