The Fourth of July, 1916 (The Greatest Display of the American Flag Ever Seen in New York, Climax of the Preparedness Parade in May)

Artist/Maker Childe Hassam (1859 - 1935)

The Fourth of July, 1916 (The Greatest Display of the American Flag Ever Seen in New York, Climax of the Preparedness Parade in May)

1916

Oil on canvas

Unframed: 36 × 26 1/4 in. (91.4 × 66.7 cm)
Framed: 48 1/2 in. × 38 5/8 in. × 4 in. (123.2 × 98.1 × 10.2 cm)

Gift of Richard Gilder, 2016

2016.31

This monumental painting by American Impressionist Childe Hassam depicts Fifth Avenue bedecked with dozens of American flags in celebration of Independence Day in 1916. The artist was a committed supporter of the Preparedness Movement, which advocated for a strengthened national defense after the outbreak of war in Europe in July 1914. Proponents of the cause staged parades in cities across the country for the next two years. Witnessing one such parade in May 1916, Hassam commented: “. . . I looked up the Avenue and saw those wonderful flags waving, and I painted a series of flag pictures after that.” This is the second of Hassam’s flag pictures. The full title of this painting conflates the annual July 4th celebration with the nationalistic fervor created by the Preparedness Movement.

ProvenanceCreated by Childe Hassam [1859-1935], the artist, 1916. [With] Milch Gallery, New York, New York, probably ca. 1919; [With] Bernard Danenberg Galleries, New York, New York, probably ca. 1968. Acquired by Mrs. Charles Buchanan, New York, New York; acquired by Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, New York, 1977; purchased by Frank Sinatra; purchased at auction by Richard Gilder, New York, New York, at “Important American Pictures & Sculpture,” Christie's, in New York, New York, December 1, 1989 (lot 185); gift to New-York Historical Society, 2016.

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