Improvements to the base of the Wrestling Bacchantes sculpture to see brick and marble elements

ATASCADERO — The base of the Wrestling Bacchantes sculpture, displayed in Atascadero’s Historic Sunken Gardens, will soon feature a brick facade with marble tiles. The project is the completion of the sculpture’s restoration efforts to highlight this historical piece of art in the City’s downtown area. 

The sculpture is made from one solid piece of white Carrara marble and inspired by romanticized figures from the ancient Greek and Roman eras. It was created by Italian sculptor Aristide Petrilli and given to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, by the Italian Government. E.G. Lewis, the founder of the Colony of Atascadero, purchased the sculpture in 1906 and donated it to the Colony.  

To complement the historic architectural design elements of the Downtown area, a local mason will install repurposed bricks from the City Hall restoration project while adding marble tiles that were original to the Atascadero Printery. Community members interested in learning more about the project are encouraged to attend Atascadero Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. in Sunken Gardens.