Charles Courtney Curran (American, 1861-1942) The Water Gate , World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago

Description:

Charles Courtney Curran (American, 1861-1942)

The Water Gate, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893
Signed and dated "CHAS· C· CURRAN· 93" l.r., inscribed "No. XV" in two places
on the stretcher.
Oil on canvas, 17 1/2 x 12 in. (44.3 x 30.5 cm),framed.
Condition: Small puncture to l.l. quadrant, scattered small paint losses, craquelure, stretcher bar marks, surface grime.

Provenance: Through the collection of William Knickerbocker Wallbridge (1882-1979) of Connecticut, to the current owner by family descent.

N.B. The painting at hand shows elegant strollers at the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893. Known to many as the World's Columbian Exposition, the fair, which celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World, showcased achievements in science, art, and industry from 46 countries around the world. Its location in Chicago was very significant. The city, which had been devastated by the Great Fire of 1871, had to compete with urban rivals such as New York, Washington, and St. Louis for the honor of hosting the fair. The magnificent and successful presentation was visited by over 20 million people and proved to be of lasting social and cultural impact, a defining moment for the host city and for America's optimistic self-image.

The overall design of the Chicago Columbian Exposition was championed by Daniel Burnham, as Director of Works, and Frederick Law Olmsted, who laid out the grounds. The fair was intended as a prototype of what a modern city should be, helping to inspire the City Beautiful movement. The Beaux Arts style buildings were splendid and impressive. The Court of Honor structures, most of which were designed to be temporary, were clad in white stucco, and these luminous facades, along with the glow provided by the new and extensive use of street lights, earned the fair the sobriquet "The White City." The design also included a large water pool, symbolizing the long voyage Columbus took to the New World.

For Burnham, architecture and sculpture were paramount, and the arts were amply represented throughout the fair. Paintings were housed in the Art Palace. Among the hundreds of works exhibited by artists from America and abroad, Charles Courtney Curran was represented with eleven oils and one pastel drawing, and he was awarded a prize.

This composition, which presents the Grand Arch of the Peristyle and Watergate, was made into a chromolithograph, copyright 1894, by The Columbian Memorial Publication Society, published by The Winters Art Litho Co. in the Supplement to the Columbian Series, Vol. 1, No.2, April 21, 1894.

Estimate $30,000-50,000

Stretcher stamped "The Pfleger Pat/..." in two places. The puncture is a reclining "L" about 1/4 inch in length. There are several minute losses to the sky. The work might benefit from cleaning.


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

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