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The next subject for study is The Tower. Notice the small spire atop. It is like a flêche on a French cathedral and helps in the French feeling which you had when you thought that you had discovered the flamboyant style, and yet, on the whole, it is more the style of Spanish towers than of the French.
Most of the figure work on the tower is by Chester Beach, formerly of
San Francisco.
The groups on the tower are now to be considered.
The combined work is called The Rise of Civilization.
The lowest group is Primitive Man during that period when great reptiles, like the saurian in the foreground, crept over the earth; when man fought with huge serpents and gigantic lions.
The rude man in the center has his child on one arm, the other arm protecting his mate (not an ordinary position for the arm of primitive man).
You easily surmise that trouble is near. His look of dogged defiance tells you that he is marching forth to meet some enemy, man or beast. This is the first march of civilization - one in which brute strength plays the principal part.
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Just above, you notice that civilization has now reached the mediaeval stage and you see the Crusader with cross on breast and sword in hand. He has reached this lofty position thru faith (represented by the priest) and war (suggested by the rude warrior). The spiritual has now been added to the physical.