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 CHAPTER XIV

Renaissance of American Womanhood In the Art of Painting. Woman's Building at the Columbian Fair in 1893. Sophia G. Hayden Architect of the Building. Artists of the Period.

The serious efforts of the American Woman in the art of painting were on this wise: Four hundred years after the New World had been discovered by the persistent will and energy of Columbus, another great wave of will and energy alighted on the shore of Lake Michigan and Presto! "A White City," like alabaster, arose to celebrate his deed. It was beautiful without and wonderful within. All the world was invited to the Columbian World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. The great adventure proved to be the Renaissance of American Womanhood to in all its ramifications.

The invited art of the world came and was housed in the most perfect Greek structure the modern world has ever seen.

As the stars spangle the celestial world in clusters, constellations and pairs, so comes genius to this under world, scattering gifts of soul to brilliance the nebulous field of sentient beings, who share life here and immortality hereafter.

History gives this inspiration from the development of mind and soul recorded through the centuries. For us, such prodigality of gifts has formed epochs that have served to elevate and broaden the life and outlook of mankind, the passing of each millennium bringing the human soul nearer its goal. The forming of one of these epochs began with the seed-sowing at the Columbian Fair. It was notable because it saw the first attempt in America of woman as mural painter.

There were buildings representing each state in the Union, buildings housing every line of enterprise and industry—hence, "The Woman's Building," wherein were represented the arts and achievements of women of all nations.

In the first place, the building was designed by Sophia G. Hayden, a graduate of the School of Architecture of the Boston Institute of Technology, who proved herself eminently qualified for the arduous undertaking. 111