St. George and the Dragon - Lawrence, Ks.
Posted by: iconions
N 38° 57.375 W 095° 14.640
15S E 305557 N 4314316
This bas-relief sculpture of St. George and the dragon is located above the entryway of Twente Hall - 1545 Lilac Lane on the University of Kansas Campus in Lawrence.
Waymark Code: WMGEC0
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 02/21/2013
Views: 2
From SIRIS:
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"Relief mural of St. George in armor, riding a horse rearing onto its hind legs. A dragon lies beneath the horse, its tail curving upwards behind St. George. With his proper right hand, St. George drives a spear into the dragon's mouth. The sun shines directly over the battle.
Copy after unknown artist. Building was originally Watkins Memorial Hospital, the first hospital on the University of Kansas campus and was dedicated in 1932. The dragon represents disease. Basil Green was the contractor of the building. For a related article see The Oread, Aug. 21, 1981, pg. 4-5."
From the Kansas University Buildings website:
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"Originally Watkins Memorial Hospital, it opened in January 1932 and was built with funds donated by Elizabeth Miller Watkins, a doctor’s daughter and widow of Lawrence banker/financier J.B. Watkins, for whom it was named. The unusual splayed-V design of the stone building, by State Architect Joseph E. Radotinsky, accommodates its site on the edge of the hill Watkins owned.
In March 1974 the larger Watkins Memorial Health Center opened; in May 1974 the former hospital became home to the School of Social Welfare and was renamed for Esther E. Twente (1895-1971), a pioneering social worker, author and educator who joined the faculty in 1937. She had overseen the development of first the department, then the School of Social Welfare. In 2005, after the opening of the Hall Center for the Humanities, Social Welfare expanded into the former Watkins Home, built as a residence for the hospital’s nurses in 1937.
The limestone bas-relief of St. George and the Dragon and the animals, birds and reptiles carved around the front door were designed and created by Professor Marjorie Whitney, chair of the design department, who also created murals of sunflowers and Jayhawks and designed many of the original furnishings. A portion of the mural and some furnishings are exhibited at the health center."