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Gift of Lynne Lumsden in honor of Arthur J. Lumsden, President Greater Hartford Chamber of Comm ...
Hartford Skyline, from East Hartford
Gift of Lynne Lumsden in honor of Arthur J. Lumsden, President Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce (1956-1981), 2014.182.1, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, Copyright undetermined
Arthur J. Lumsden commissioned this work. The U.S. Copyright Office states, "If a work is made for hire, the employer or the party that specially ordered or commissioned that work is the initial owner of the copyright in the work unless the employer or the commissioning party has signed a written agreement to the contrary with the work's creator." There is no information about the original commission agreement, so the copyright holder's identity is unknown (it would be either Robert Templeton or the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, presumably). In the object file for 2014.183.0, which is the watercolor painting of this scene, there is a letter from the Metro Hartford Alliance and the Hartford Chamber of Commerce that purportedly transfers the copyright to the Connecticut Historical Society, but the copyright is only "for the sole purpose of the Society displaying the printing," which is not a legitimate transfer of copyright.

Hartford Skyline, from East Hartford

Painter (1929 - 1991)
Date1971
MediumOil on canvas
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineGift of Lynne Lumsden in honor of Arthur J. Lumsden, President Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce (1956-1981)
Object number2014.182.1
DescriptionFramed oil painting by Robert Templeton depicting downtown Hartford seen from East Hartford. The Old State House is in the center of the painting, flanked by the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company Building (the "Boat Building"), the Hartford-Connecticut Trust Company building, and the Constitution Plaza complex (including Broadcast House). From left to right, the notable buildings behind the Old State House are the Connecticut State Capitol, Bushnell Tower, Traveler's Tower, One Financial Plaza (the "Gold Building"), 777 Main Street (Hartford National Bank Building), the Hartford-Aetna Bank Building, and G. Fox & Co. I-91 is visible in the foreground. There are cars in parking lots and on the highway and surface roads, but few if any pedestrians.


Label TextOil painting of downtown Hartford from East Hartford
1971

Painted by Robert Templeton, (1929 - 1991)
Hartford, CT
CHS collection, Gift of Lynne Lumsden in honor of Arthur J. Lumsden, President Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce (1956-1981), 2014.182.1

This painting was commissioned by Arthur J. Lumsden who served as the president of the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce during a time of great change for Hartford. This image shows the historic Old State House sitting in the center of large, modern buildings. This image was painted in 1971, after the completion of a number of major urban renewal projects that promised to modernize and revitalize Hartford.

Today, Hartford is growing once more and still looking for the perfect formula for attracting businesses, cultural events, and people to the downtown area.

Status
Not on view