Art Institute Exhibit Reconstructs Mary Cassatt's Lost 1893 World's Fair Mural

Visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago this fall can view a large-scale reconstruction of a painting that has been missing for more than a century. The exhibition centers on a three-panel mural created by American impressionist Mary Cassatt for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The original work, titled Modern Woman, stretched 60 feet long and 14 feet high. It no longer exists, but the new display uses historical records to illustrate its scale and content for a modern audience.

The painting was commissioned for the Woman's Building at the fair. Bertha Palmer, a wealthy Chicago philanthropist, spearheaded the construction of the structure. The building featured exhibits on women's patents, innovations, and literary contributions. Cassatt's mural hung in the main hall, mirroring a separate work titled Primitive Woman by artist Mary MacMonnies. The two pieces represented a rare commission for women artists during that era.

The mural depicted well-dressed women chasing a metaphor for fame, playing music, and tending to an orchard. The central scene showed women plucking fruits of knowledge and science. Art historian Wanda Corn, a professor emeritus at Stanford University, noted that the work illustrated the possibilities for women to become educated, artists, and fame seekers. Corn stated that the piece solidified Cassatt's reputation in the United States.

After the fair concluded, the Woman's Building was destroyed like most other structures at the site. The artwork was moved to storage. Curator Annelise Madsen said the last known location for the mural was the Palmer family's Gold Coast mansion on Lake Shore Drive. The residence was once the largest private home in the city before its demolition in 1950. The mural was stored there until at least 1912.

The Art Institute's archives contain a letter from the museum's director around 1912. The director inquired about unrolling the mural to see if it could be installed temporarily at the museum. Madsen explained that the paper trail ends with that inquiry. The director never followed through, and the painting was never seen again after that date.

Speculation suggests the piece may have been damaged by water or burned in a fire. Corn said that many researchers have searched for the work over the years. She concluded that the evidence indicates the mural is gone. She said she does not believe there is a chance it would reappear. The exhibition aims to piece together this story and bring the lost work back to life for visitors.

The show marks the start of a narrative about women in large-scale painting. Corn noted that if one looks for women doing large paintings, the story probably starts in 1893. From there, other women stepped up to take on larger commissions. The exhibition runs as part of the museum's fall programming, offering a detailed look at the mystery surrounding one of the most famous lost works of the 19th century.