George Tilyou’s Steeplechase

Reginald Marsh, George Tilyou's Steeplechase, 1932, oil and egg tempera on linen mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.60
Reginald Marsh, George Tilyou's Steeplechase, 1932, oil and egg tempera on linen mounted on fiberboard, 30 1840 18 in. (76.5101.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.60

Artwork Details

Title
George Tilyou’s Steeplechase
Date
1932
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
30 1840 18 in. (76.5101.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil and egg tempera on linen mounted on fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group
  • Architecture Exterior — commercial — recreation
  • Recreation — sport and play — racing
Object Number
1986.6.60

Artwork Description

Steeplechase Park was one of three amusement parks at Coney Island in Brooklyn. Here Marsh showed a couple astride one of the mechanical horses that raced around the Pavilion of Fun on iron rails that, in places, were as high as thirty-five feet above the ground. The nested bodies of the sailor and the girl exude the passion of young love, although the strained expression on the woman’s face may signal the transience of their affection.


Modern American Realism: The Sara Roby Foundation Collection, 2014

Works by this artist (97 items)

Reginald Marsh, Locomotives, Jersey City, 1934, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Felicia Meyer Marsh, 1979.127.1
Locomotives, Jersey City
Date1934
oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard
On view
Reginald Marsh, Untitled, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1979.127.4
Untitled
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view
Star Burlesk
Date1933
etching on paper
Not on view
Reginald Marsh, Untitled, 1927, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1979.127.3
Untitled
Date1927
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view

Exhibitions

Media - 1986.6.100 - SAAM-1986.6.100_2 - 135134
Modern American Realism: Highlights from the Sara Roby Foundation Collection
This exhibition presents some of the most treasured paintings and sculpture from SAAM’s permanent collection, including artworks by Will Barnet, Isabel Bishop, Paul Cadmus, Edward Hopper, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Jacob Lawrence, George Tooker, among others.

More Artworks from the Collection

Fannie Hillsmith, Winter Trees, 1938, oil and tempera on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Patricia and Phillip Frost, 1986.92.56
Winter Trees
Date1938
oil and tempera on canvas
Not on view
Paul Cadmus, Aspects of Suburban Life: Golf, 1936, oil and tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of State, 1978.76.1
Aspects of Suburban Life: Golf
Date1936
oil and tempera on fiberboard
On view
Paul Cadmus, Aspects of Suburban Life: Public Dock, 1936, oil and tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of State, 1978.76.2
Aspects of Suburban Life: Public Dock
Date1936
oil and tempera on fiberboard
Not on view
Paul Cadmus, Aspects of Suburban Life: Polo, 1936, oil and tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of State, 1978.76.3
Aspects of Suburban Life: Polo
Date1936
oil and tempera on fiberboard
Not on view