1893, World’s Columbian Exhibition, Chicago

Millet working at his desk in the Administration Building of the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

As Director of Decorations and latter also Exhibitions, FD Millet spent nearly two years in preparation for a watershed exhibition that launched the United States into a full fledged industrial revolution.  Millet planned everything down to the smallest detail.  Things such as planning the logo for the event, engaging the first major industrial application of spray painting the vast number of buildings all white.  Some sources even give him credit for inventing spray painting, but what he did was take a small invention and scale it up to a full blown major production or the venue would not have been finished.  Millet established the jury process for selecting the art to be exhibited in the Arts building at the fair. 

He also submitted several of his personal paintings which were selected by the jury. As the consummate arts administrator he managed every detail.  Using the white buildings as a background he was able to, for example, introduce large scale commercial lighting in a way never seen by most of the US population.

Millet left nothing to chance, like painting a sketch of the larger than heroic statue of “The Republic” which he wanted at the head of the largest central lake, he then gave the painting to Daniel Chester French, a good friend and fan of French’s masterful talent in sculpture with the request that he produce the finished, gold leafed monument as a key focal point of the promenade at the fair.

Millet’s design for Republic and the finished sculpture.

All the time he was doing this 24/7 administration for the fair, he also took on some individual mural works at the fair himelf.  He designed, supervised and painted key portions himself of murals in the New York State building (see gallery item) as well as painting the  large mural “Arts of Industry” for the Manufacturers Building.

.                                                   As with most of his life Francis Davis Millet was doing everything and directing everything and letting others take the limelight and credit.  Sadly this personal characteristic would eventually, following his death let American cultural leaders morn his passing and then “forget” his contributions or in some cases let Millets contributions be assumed by others.

Millet’s staff and co-workers helping to build the Exposition did not forget him.  As a small honor in his name they christened the lagoon rescue ship the “FD Millet”

The following link has a good overall review of the entire 1893 Exposition:

https://chicagology.com/columbiaexpo/