Serra Museum Tower, San Diego

Media - 1983.77 - SAAM-1983.77_1 - 65459
Copied Everett Gee Jackson, Serra Museum Tower, San Diego, ca. 1930, oil on canvas, 23 1228 in. (59.871.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1983.77

Artwork Details

Title
Serra Museum Tower, San Diego
Date
ca. 1930
Dimensions
23 1228 in. (59.871.0 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Keywords
  • Cityscape — California — San Diego
  • Architecture Exterior — religious — bell tower
  • Architecture Exterior — art building — Serra Museum
  • Architecture Exterior — civic — museum
Object Number
1983.77

Artwork Description

Everett Gee Jackson painted this well-known San Diego landmark around 1930. The San Diego Historical Society's Serra Museum, still in existence, is located on a hill in Presidio Park and was built in the 1920s. It was here in 1769 that Father Junípero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, helped establish the first mission and presidio (fort) in California. Jackson, who originally painted bright, impressionistic pieces, traveled to Mexico in the 1920s and was greatly affected by Mexican culture and art. The change in Jackson's style can be seen in Serra Museum Tower, San Diego, through his bold use of color, geometric shapes, and dramatic use of space and viewpoint.