“The Worlds Columbian Exposition, Chicago 1892″
17″ x 14″ Inches Sight size
27″ x 24” Inches Frame Size
Gouache & Bodycolour – Signed and Dated
Exhibited at The WorldsFair, Chicago 1893
* This is one of only five examples from the Exposition
Private Collection, Austin Texas
In 2008, Christie’s Estimate 75,000.00 – 95,000.00
*other examples of Hassam’s work from the Chicago World Fair sold in 2008 for $741,00.00
INFORMATION
In 1892, Chicago won the bid to host The World’s Columbian Exposition in honor of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the New World, beating out rivals New York, Washington DC and St. Louis. Twenty-one years earlier, a fire had swallowed nearly four square miles of the city, and though Chicago was quick to re-build, the opportunity to host the World’s Fair provided the ultimate symbol of redemption for the devastated metropolis. Architects Dan Burham and John Root masterminded the plan for the six hundred acres of land on which almost two hundred buildings were erected in the Beaux Arts style of architecture, earning the fairgrounds the title of “The White City”.
The Fair officially opened on May 1st 1893.
The Exposition provided the impetus for Childe Hassam’s first visit to the City. Barbara Weinberg writes – “Hassum’s 1882 visit to Chicago in connection with the Worlds Columbian Exposition provoked some distinctive images. In order to supplement his income, Hassum undertook two assignments associated with the fair… He added backgrounds and figures to a group of existing architectural drawings by other artist, which were reproduced as a series of chromolithographs entitled Gems of the White City; made original views of the Exposition buildings in watercolour gouache and bodycolour. In addition to the chromolithographs (5) he painted tow oils ( one of which sold at auction in 2008 for $ 741,000.00 )
The Fair was attended by 27 million people ( at a time when the United States population was approximately 50 million ) and provided unprecedented exposer for Hassam and his work.