
'Christy Girl' illustration Save

Description: This color illustration is a full-length profile of a woman with light-brown hair opening a door into a room. She is wearing a white blouse, black scarf tied in a bow at the neck, and a floor-length brown skirt. The artist, Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952), was famous for his portraits of the so-called "Christy Girl," his romanticized vision of the modern young society woman.
Born in Morgan County, Ohio, Christy spent his youth on his parents' farm near Duncan Falls. Christy’s mother encouraged his work as a painter and sketch artist. During the 1890s Christy moved to New York City and studied under William Merritt Chase, who encouraged his students to paint their subjects in a realistic manner. After achieving success as an illustrator, Christy open his own studio and began painting portraits and landscape scenes.
Christy became a well-known artist because of his involvement in the Spanish-American War. During this conflict, he accompanied American soldiers into battle. He provided magazines, such as "Scribner's," "Harper's," "The Century", and "Leslie's Weekly," with drawings of the battlefields. After the war, Christy became famous for his artwork depicting the "Christy Girl," whose image he used in books, magazines, calendars, and even patriotic posters.
Over the next decade, Christy emerged as one of America's most popular artists and illustrators. He returned to his childhood home in Ohio and opened his own studio. His fame continued to grow during the 1910s. He returned to New York and opened a studio in 1915. During World War I he drew posters encouraging his fellow Americans to support the war effort. Once again, the "Christy Girl" figured prominently in his artwork.
Following the war, Christy slowly turned away from painting the "Christy Girl." During the 1920s the artist painted the portraits of a number of well-known Americans, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Eddie Rickenbacker. At the beginning of the Great Depression, Christy's popularity briefly declined, but the artist returned to painting women and landscape scenes. His celebrity status revived, he created commemorative paintings of historical events. His most famous painting from this era shows the signing of the United States Constitution. It hangs in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. Two of Christy's works from this period also hang in the Ohio Statehouse.
Christy died in 1952 in New York City. Christy died in New York on March 3, 1952 and was buried in the Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum.
View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06981
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Illustration; Morgan County (Ohio); Artists--Ohio
Image ID: AL06981
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Illustration; Morgan County (Ohio); Artists--Ohio
'Christy Girl' illustration Save

Description: This color illustration is a full-length profile of a woman with dark hair wearing a long evening dress. The artist, Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952), was famous for his portraits of the so-called "Christy Girl," his romanticized vision of the modern young society woman.
Born in Morgan County, Ohio, Christy spent his youth on his parents' farm near Duncan Falls. Later in life he recorded fond memories of the time that he spent along the Muskingum River. Christy’s mother encouraged his work as a painter and sketch artist. During the 1890s Christy moved to New York City and studied under William Merritt Chase, who encouraged his students to paint their subjects in a realistic manner. After achieving success as an illustrator, Christy open his own studio and began painting portraits and landscape scenes.
Christy became a well-known artist because of his involvement in the Spanish-American War. During this conflict, he accompanied American soldiers into battle. He provided magazines, such as "Scribner's," "Harper's," "The Century", and "Leslie's Weekly," with drawings of the battlefields. After the war, Christy became famous for his artwork depicting the "Christy Girl," whose image he used in books, magazines, calendars, and even patriotic posters.
Over the next decade, Christy emerged as one of America's most popular artists and illustrators. He returned to his childhood home in Ohio and opened his own studio. His fame continued to grow during the 1910s. He returned to New York and opened a studio in 1915. During World War I he drew posters encouraging his fellow Americans to support the war effort. Once again, the "Christy Girl" figured prominently in his artwork.
Following the world war, Christy slowly turned away from painting the "Christy Girl." During the 1920s the artist painted the portraits of a number of well-known Americans, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Eddie Rickenbacker. At the beginning of the Great Depression, Christy's popularity briefly declined, but the artist returned to painting women and landscape scenes. His celebrity status revived, he created commemorative paintings of historical events. His most famous painting from this era shows the signing of the United States Constitution. It hangs in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. Two of Christy's works from this period also hang in the Ohio Statehouse.
Christy died in 1952 in New York City. He was buried in the Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06980
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Illustration; Morgan County (Ohio); Artists--Ohio
Image ID: AL06980
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Illustration; Morgan County (Ohio); Artists--Ohio
Elise Ford portrait Save

Description: Portrait of Elise Ford created by Howard Chandler Christy in 1947. The painting is part of the Ohio History Connection fine art collection. Christy grew up in Duncan Falls, Ohio, and later built a studio there. In addition to portraits, he was a well-known illustrator and also painted historic scenes. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00713
Subjects: Muskingum County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952
Image ID: AL00713
Subjects: Muskingum County (Ohio); Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952
Warren G. Harding campaign poster Save

Description: This campaign poster titled "America First!" was created by artist Howard Chandler Christy for the 1920 presidential campaign of Warren G. Harding. Harding (1865-1923) was born in Corsica (now called Blooming Grove), a small town in Morrow County, Ohio. Harding graduated from Ohio Central College in Iberia at the age of 16. His family moved to Marion, where Harding taught school and briefly studied law. He worked occasionally as a reporter for a local paper before buying the Marion Star in 1884. Within five years, the Star was one of the most successful small-town newspapers in the state. Harding became popular as the leader of the Citizen's Coronet Band, which played at political rallies, and for his skill as an orator. Willing to follow the lead of political bosses, Harding advanced rapidly in Ohio politics, serving as state senator and lieutenant governor. In 1914, Harding was elected to the U. S. Senate. He went on to win the presidency with 60 percent of the popular vote, promising a "return to normalcy" following the wave of reforms begun during Theodore Roosevelt's administration. As president, Harding appointed several friends to federal office who proved untrustworthy. His administration was tainted by corruption, and the infamous "Teapot Dome" scandal (in which Harding's Secretary of the Interior leased a U.S. petroleum reserve to a private oil company) nearly destroyed his presidency. After he died in office in August 1923, other scandals were uncovered, further tarnishing Harding's reputation. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1523_1505576_025
Subjects: Presidential elections; Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Political posters; Artists--Ohio;
Places: Marion (Ohio); Marion County (Ohio)
Image ID: Om1523_1505576_025
Subjects: Presidential elections; Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Political posters; Artists--Ohio;
Places: Marion (Ohio); Marion County (Ohio)
'Signing of the Treaty of Greene Ville' painting Save

Description: "The Signing of the Treaty of Greene Ville, 1795," as depicted by Howard Chandler Christy (painted in 1945).
In this scene, General Anthony Wayne dictates terms of the treaty to the gathered American Indians. This painting is currently hanging in the rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00235
Subjects: Treaty of Green Ville (1795); Greenville (Ohio); Ohio History--Military Ohio; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio)
Image ID: AL00235
Subjects: Treaty of Green Ville (1795); Greenville (Ohio); Ohio History--Military Ohio; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952
Places: Greenville (Ohio); Darke County (Ohio)
'Dawn of a New Light' painting Save

Description: Photograph of a painting titled "Dawn of a New Light," which depicts inventor Thomas Edison at different life stages. The painting was created by Ohio artist Howard Chandler Christy in 1950 and hangs in the rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03333
Subjects: Painters -- Ohio; Ohio Economy--Science and Technology; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931; Inventors -- Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
Image ID: AL03333
Subjects: Painters -- Ohio; Ohio Economy--Science and Technology; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931; Inventors -- Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
Howard Chandler Christy photograph Save

Description: Artist Howard Chandler Christy is pictured in the center. Christy grew up in Duncan Falls, Ohio, and later built a studio there. In addition to portraits, he was a well-known illustrator and also painted historic scenes. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03320
Subjects: Painters--Ohio; Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952
Image ID: AL03320
Subjects: Painters--Ohio; Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952
'Christy Girl' illustration Save

Description: This color illustration portrays a young woman with golden-brown hair wearing an off-the-shoulder blouse and a yellow skirt. A single stone of emerald green hangs from a narrow band around her forehead. The artist, Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952), was famous for his portraits of the so-called "Christy Girl," his romanticized vision of the modern young society woman.
Born in Morgan County, Ohio, Christy spent his youth on his parents' farm near Duncan Falls. Christy’s mother encouraged his work as a painter and sketch artist. During the 1890s Christy moved to New York City and studied under William Merritt Chase, who encouraged his students to paint their subjects in a realistic manner. After achieving success as an illustrator, Christy open his own studio and began painting portraits and landscape scenes.
Christy became a well-known artist because of his involvement in the Spanish-American War. During this conflict, he accompanied American soldiers into battle. He provided magazines, such as "Scribner's," "Harper's," "The Century", and "Leslie's Weekly," with drawings of the battlefields. After the war, Christy became famous for his artwork depicting the "Christy Girl," whose image he used in books, magazines, calendars, and even patriotic posters.
Over the next decade, Christy emerged as one of America's most popular artists and illustrators. He returned to his childhood home in Ohio and opened his own studio. His fame continued to grow during the 1910s. He returned to New York and opened a studio in 1915. During World War I he drew posters encouraging his fellow Americans to support the war effort. Once again, the "Christy Girl" figured prominently in his artwork.
Following the war, Christy slowly turned away from painting the "Christy Girl." During the 1920s the artist painted the portraits of a number of well-known Americans, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Eddie Rickenbacker. At the beginning of the Great Depression, Christy's popularity briefly declined, but the artist returned to painting women and landscape scenes. His celebrity status revived, he created commemorative paintings of historical events. His most famous painting from this era shows the signing of the United States Constitution. It hangs in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. Two of Christy's works from this period also hang in the Ohio Statehouse.
Christy died in New York on March 3, 1952 and was buried in the Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum.
View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06982
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Illustration; Morgan County (Ohio); Artists--Ohio
Image ID: AL06982
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Illustration; Morgan County (Ohio); Artists--Ohio
Howard Chandler Christy photograph Save

Description: Howard Chandler Christy, during the celebrations in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Greenville, which took place in August 1945. Events included a parade, an appreciation dinner for Christy, and exhibition of the original Treaty of Greenville (1795), on loan from the National Archives. The State of Ohio commissioned Christy to create a work for the 150th anniversary of the treaty that ended the Indian Wars in Ohio. The painting "The Signing of the Treaty of Greene Ville" was unveiled in a ceremony on August 3, 1945.
A prominent early 20th century illustrator and artist, Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952) was born on a farm in Morgan Township, Ohio. He first gained notice as an illustrator during the Spanish-American War, but achieved lasting fame for his trademark "Christy Girls," dream girls who idealized feminine beauty during this era. Between 1908 and 1915, he worked from a studio perched above the Muskingum River near Duncan Falls. In the 1920s Christy began to paint portraits and historical scenes. "The Signing of the Constitution of the United States," displayed in the U.S. Capitol, is his most famous work. "The Signing of the Treaty of Green Ville" hangs in the Ohio Statehouse. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05939
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists; Treaty of Greenville
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
Image ID: AL05939
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists; Treaty of Greenville
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
Howard Chandler Christy's home photograph Save

Description: Howard Chandler Christy's home, located on the Muskingum River about 35 miles south of Zanesville, Ohio. Christy was a prominent American artist in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born January 10, 1873, in Ohio and spent his youth on his parents' farm near Duncan Falls and the Muskingum River. In 1890 he moved to New York City, where he enrolled at the Art Students League. He soon ran out of money and moved back to Ohio, but he returned to New York in 1892. Christy studied under William Merritt Chase, who encouraged his students to paint their subjects in a realistic manner. The young artist adopted this realistic style and became a successful illustrator for books and magazine articles. He also painted portraits and landscape scenes. During the Spanish-American War, Christy accompanied American soldiers into battle, and his drawings of the battlefields were featured in such leading magazines as "Scribner's," "Harper's," "The Century," and "Leslie's Weekly." After the war he became famous for his artwork depicting a young woman who became known as the "Christy Girl." Christy used her image in books, magazines, calendars, and even patriotic posters. During the next decade he emerged as one of America's most popular artists and illustrators. He returned to his childhood home in Ohio and opened his own studio. His fame continued to grow during the 1910s. He returned to New York and opened a studio in 1915. During World War I he drew posters encouraging his fellow Americans to support the war effort. Once again the "Christy Girl" figured prominently in his artwork. After the war Christy turned to portraiture. During the 1920s he painted the portraits of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Eddie Rickenbacker, among other famous subjects. His popularity briefly declined during the Great Depression, but when he resumed painting women and landscape scenes, his celebrity status returned. He created commemorative paintings of historical events. His most famous painting from this era, which portrays the signing of the United States Constitution, hangs in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. Two of Christy's works from this period also hang in the Ohio Statehouse.
Christy died in 1952 in New York City.
View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05940
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists
Places: Muskingum County (Ohio)
Image ID: AL05940
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Cultural Ohio--Art and Artists
Places: Muskingum County (Ohio)
Howard Chandler Christy home in Duncan Falls Save

Description: Photo of Howard Chandler Christy’s childhood home in Duncan Falls, Ohio. Howard Chandler Christy was a prominent American artist in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Christy was famous for his war-time poster artwork, and he also acted as a historic muralist, portrait painter, and New York City social figure. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F02_004_001
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Artists--Ohio; Muskingum County (Ohio); Historic homes
Places: Duncan Falls (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio)
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F02_004_001
Subjects: Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952; Artists--Ohio; Muskingum County (Ohio); Historic homes
Places: Duncan Falls (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio)
'For Thine is the Kingdom' poster Save

Description: This World War II poster painted by Howard Chandler Christy shows Uncle Sam kneeling against a backdrop of a battle scene, looking up at a ray of light coming from the sky. The message reads "For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory" across the top and "Give us the Faith and Courage of our Forefathers--By Word and by Deed, Help Spiritual Defense" at the bottom. This style of poster was designed to encourage civilians to contribute to the war effort in everyday life. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Series_2829_F7_18
Subjects: World War II; War posters; Propaganda; Military Ohio; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952;
Image ID: Series_2829_F7_18
Subjects: World War II; War posters; Propaganda; Military Ohio; Christy, Howard Chandler, 1873-1952;