Collection of the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA. Gift of The Gimbel Brothers, Inc.
1959.GIMBEL.42
Isabella Furnaces, Pittsburgh
1947 (Date created)
October 1 1947 (Date published)
October 1 1947 (Date published)
Gouache
Painting
Paintings
35.75 in W
x
29.75 in H
(Frame)
27.5 in W x 20 in H (Image)
27.5 in W x 20 in H (Image)
American
Exterior view of steel mill (Isabella Furnaces, Pittsburgh) in operation with slag piles in foreground and blast furnace stacks in background, 2 workers in lower left leaving shift.
"This exterior view of a steel mill in operation shows slag piles in the foreground. Behind these is a large gridge crane, with tall stacks of blast furnaces in the background. In the left foreground two workers leave a shift, while, immediately behind them, gondola cars carry scrap and pig-iron to the cupola. There a mixture of scrap, pig-iron and other materials is tossed into a retort for distillation." (D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948).
"One of only two outdoor scenes portrayed by Millman in the collection, Isabella Furnaces, Pittsburgh infuses the wondrous steel mill scene with life and action by utilizing color. Millman represents the industry by capturing the operational power of the mills represented in Isabella's grandeur. The massive towers dominate the balanced composition and dwarf the two dispassionate workers. Concentrating more on the physical portrayal of the mull than the surrounding land, Millman paints the buildings and structures in a delicate manner, with fine brushstrokes and fine detail, while abstracting the slag piles and smoggy sky in a rougher manner. Isabella Furnaces, Pittsburgh portrays the root of Pittsburgh's blue-collar heritage. The iconic impression of the lo0oming and powerful silhouette of the factory defined Pittsburgh's cityscape for most of the twentieth century." ("SLAG", Fall 2010)
"One of only two outdoor scenes portrayed by Millman in the collection, Isabella Furnaces, Pittsburgh infuses the wondrous steel mill scene with life and action by utilizing color. Millman represents the industry by capturing the operational power of the mills represented in Isabella's grandeur. The massive towers dominate the balanced composition and dwarf the two dispassionate workers. Concentrating more on the physical portrayal of the mull than the surrounding land, Millman paints the buildings and structures in a delicate manner, with fine brushstrokes and fine detail, while abstracting the slag piles and smoggy sky in a rougher manner. Isabella Furnaces, Pittsburgh portrays the root of Pittsburgh's blue-collar heritage. The iconic impression of the lo0oming and powerful silhouette of the factory defined Pittsburgh's cityscape for most of the twentieth century." ("SLAG", Fall 2010)
In Collection
ca. 1959, University Art Gallery Gift of Mr. Steve Osterweis, President of Gimbel Brothers, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.
ca. 1946-1959, Gimbel Brothers, Inc.
ca. 1946-1959, Gimbel Brothers, Inc.
Catalog of October 1, 1947 (first publication of the paintings)
D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948
R. Gigler, "Pittsburgh's Man of Steel", Pittsburgh Press Roto, August 12, 1979.
O. Francis, "The Saga of Joe Magarac Steelman", Scribner's Magazine, nov. 1931.
Roy Kahn, "Real Pittsburgh: Just an Average Joe", Pittsburgh Magazine, nov. 1985, 17-18.
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Feb. 25, 1948
John Oliver La Gorce, "Artists Look At Pennsylvania", National Geographic Magazine
Catalogue from March 1959 when the collection was presented at the new University Student Union at Pitt (formerly Schenley Hotel).
D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948
R. Gigler, "Pittsburgh's Man of Steel", Pittsburgh Press Roto, August 12, 1979.
O. Francis, "The Saga of Joe Magarac Steelman", Scribner's Magazine, nov. 1931.
Roy Kahn, "Real Pittsburgh: Just an Average Joe", Pittsburgh Magazine, nov. 1985, 17-18.
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Feb. 25, 1948
John Oliver La Gorce, "Artists Look At Pennsylvania", National Geographic Magazine
Catalogue from March 1959 when the collection was presented at the new University Student Union at Pitt (formerly Schenley Hotel).
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.
Corporate commissions
Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Industry
Social
Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Industry
Social