Name/Title
Urban Night Scene (working title)Entry/Object ID
SHH 91.242Description
Oil painting, unfinished and unsigned, urban night scene. Darkness is painted in dark blues and violets. Scene may be of festival: at left are three figures standing on roof top and looking over ledge, pair of female and one male figure; some sort of courtyard at center with building edge at right side of canvas and building with orange and white roofline at center background, impression of human figures gathered underneath. At left background above buildings is stand of six yellow flags blowing in breeze; to right is string of red and yellow lights strung across skyline; to right is tall tree with green foliage lit by white light emanating from below; further to right at right edge of canvas is what appears to be ornate tower or finial of building, possibly fountain.
"At the fair the first time, I bought a box of crayons and a 10 ct sketch pad, and made a sketch from the top of the bridge at 23rd street Entrance of the lighting over the entrances. I would call the pillars ‘mechanical cascades’ and ‘waterfalls’ lighted by colors at night. I have the scene on a small canvas and know what is yet to be done to make it more convincing.” (GPS to FAS Jr. Nov 5, 1933 – Robert Harrison) The letter goes into great detail of Gertrude's visit to the World's Fair in Chicago. She describes the use of light throughout the fairgrounds and how different buildings were washed in various combinations of light at night to great effect.Type of Painting
EaselArtwork Details
Medium
Oil, CanvasSubject
Chicago World's Fair 1933Collection
PERMANENT COLLECTIONCataloged By
Margaret TramontineAcquisition
Accession
SHH 91.234-252Source or Donor
Seiberling, Nancy JacksonAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gift of Mrs. Franklin Augustus Seiberling, Jr.Made/Created
Artist
Seiberling, Gertrude PenfieldDate made
1935 - 1945Place
City
ChicagoState/Province
IllinoisCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaDimensions
Dimension Notes
Image Size: 14" x 18"Condition
Overall Condition
GoodNotes
Acid-free backing board attached May 1994.General Notes
Note
This is one of 25 paintings used in the 2008 exhibit "A Period of Perspective - The Art of Gertrude Penfield Seiberling" in the Music Room at Stan Hywet. The majority of these paintings were not framed, and some weren't on stretchers. Thus, new frames were added for the exhibit by Akron Center for art & framing, 1915 W. Market St, Akron, OH.
New frame added in 2008
Framed in March 2019 at Akrona Galleries (1765 W Market St, Akron, OH 44313)
for 2019 season's exhibition on Gertrude's artwork.Create Date
August 12, 1994Update Date
June 9, 2026
