4: HUGH FERRISS (1889-1962) 1962 UNISPHERE ILLUSTRATION

Hugh Ferriss (1889-1962)
The 1964 World's Fair Unisphere (Circa 1962.)
The important, documentary, original charcoal rendering is executed on artist's illustration board and signed Hugh Ferriss del in white gouache lower left front. The surface is sealed with fixative, displaying a subtle shine upon close inspection.

Dramatic portrayals of Futuristic and Modernistic architecture, and monuments, was the specialty of Hugh Ferriss. His 1929 book The Metropolis of Tomorrow was filled with just such renderings depicting real and imagined architecture and cityscapes. He is well-known for documenting the majority of famous existing buildings, bridges, dams and other feats of human endeavor of the day early 20th century. The large composition up for auction here is most likely among the last of Ferriss' major works.

The Unisphere (unis being the Latin word for 'one' and the root of the words unite and union) is a massive 140 foot stainless steel armillary sphere representing the earth itself. It was commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age (Kennedy had committed the nation to an ambitious space program the year prior) and constructed to create the symbolism of world ''Peace Through Understanding'', a theme of the 1964 World's Fair.

Ferriss' composition is exacted in profuse detail with thousands of people and hundreds of national flags depicted in detail.

Hugh Ferriss was a Missouri native. This lost work was recently discovered in a Missouri home. No other provenance exists.

Still today, the Hugh Ferriss Memorial Prize is awarded by the American Society of Architectural Illustrators in recognition of excellence in the graphic representation of architecture. It is the Society's highest award.
Overall framed size measures 34 x 43 inches.
Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of scratches, losses, repairs, stain or touch-up.
$4,000 - $6,000