Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Christy's "Signing of the Constitution"

Howard Chandler Christy's painting called "Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States" shows George Washington standing at the dais and Benjamin Franklin seated at center.



Christy researched the subject for five years and spent seven months painting it. He studied portraits of almost all of the people represented, and he looked for whatever authentic props he could find.

The Smithsonian Institution lent him George Washington's breeches, and The Library of Congress let him borrow some of Thomas Jefferson's books, which appear next to Franklin’s chair. The painting hangs in the Capitol building in the east stairway of the House of Representatives.

2 comments:

Robert Cosgrove said...

Not the side of Christie one normally sees, but pretty impressive.

VickiRossArt said...

His great-niece, Urania Christy Tarbet is quite an accomplished artist as well. She founded IAPS (international Assiciation of Pastel Societies), and along with Flora Giffuni Pastel Society of America (PSA) created the modern resurgence of soft pastel.