"The Cotillion"   Lot no. 388

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Magazine illustration "Elegant lady and diplomats at formal ball." Done for decorative print titled The Cotillion.

Howard Chandler Christy first came to the public’s attention as a war/artist correspondent in the Spanish American War.  One article in Scribner’s called, “The Soldier’s Girl,” featured his illustration of a girl who became known as the “Christy Girl” which brought him instant fame.  From that time on, he specialized in painting beautiful women for many magazines.  He also was an excellent portraitist and painted several famous murals, such as the decorative nudes on the walls of the Café des Artistes in New York City and “The Signing of the Constitution” which hangs in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D. C.

A cotillion is a patterned social dance that originated in France in the 18^th century.  In this painting by the same name, we see a line of splendid gentlemen waiting to ask a Christy Girl to dance.  The rich, glistening quality of the women’s gowns and the light from the polished surfaces are expressed extremely well by Christy’s handling of this subject.

Printed in "Thirty Favorite Paintings by Leading American Artists." Copyright 1908 by P. F. Collier & Son.

Explore related art collections: Magazine Stories / Romance / Classical / 1900s / Fashion / Dance / Men / Women as Subjects / $20,000 - $50,000

See all original artwork by Howard Chandler Christy

ABOUT THE ARTIST

            Howard Chandler Christy had a long, colorful and varied career. He made his early reputation when he accompanied the United States troops to Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and articles illustrated by his drawings were published by Scribner's and Leslie's Weekly. One picture for Scribner's, the "Soldier's Dream" [of his girl] became famous, and from then on, he specialized in drawing and painting beautiful "Christy Girls" for McClure's and other magazines.

            Christy's painting techniques was sumptuous, and he was in great demand as a portraitist. Among the notables he painted were President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, Amelia Earhart, Lawrence Tibbett, Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, and Benito Mussolini.

 

            Christy was also a popular teacher and at various times instructed at Cooper Union, the Chase School, New York School of Art and the Art Students League.

 

            In Later Years, he painted several murals, including his well-known decorative nudes for the Café des artistes in New York City. His most famous mural is a 20- by 30- foot canvas, "The Signing of the Constitution," which hangs in the rotunda of the capitol in Washington, D.C. He was elected to the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1980.