1788. JEAN ANTOINE HOUDON

GEORGE WASHINGTON.
ANOTHER LOOK.
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I've been to the Fifth Floor of City Hall several times trying to get George's portrait right.  And each time I'm there, I have been distracted by the HORRENDOUS fluorescent lighting, bad shadows and background noise.  Its also a little distracting to know that THE MAYOR is sitting just inside that opposite door.  (Right or wrong, btw, I'm a big fan.)   But this morning,  for whatever reason,  I actually saw Houdon's Washington.

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And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind why in 1912 the administrators of the Benjamin Franklin Ferguson Fund purchased this casting of the original.  It is remarkable.  Even under fluorescent tubes George's face is so plastic, so realistic, that it photographs like a living, breathing man. Details are accurate.  And in the blur of low light -- well, you get the picture.

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There are dozens, hundreds of little projects, all over the City  that deserve attention. But replacing the fluorescents above George with some well placed halogen spots is  readily  do-able (given that the stakeholders are the City of Chicago and B.F. Ferguson Fund administered by the Art Institute of Chicago).  And the result would be to better honor George, Ben, Antoine and Richard.  For more on the Ferguson Fund, link HERE.

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