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John Gable, Georgetown University at the Second
Millennium, 1997, watercolor on paper, 66 x 93 cm.
The University in December unveiled the impressive watercolor
aerial view of the Hilltop, Georgetown University at the
Second Millennium by John Gable (b. 1944).
The painting was commissioned in 1997 by Richard J. McCooey (C'52),
founder of the 1789, Tombs, and F. Scott's restaurants on 36th
Street, to fulfill what he believed was the need to document Georgetown
University at the milestone of the millennium. His inspiration
came from other landmark views of Georgetown College, such as
those from the 1830s by James Alexander Simpson, now hanging in
Carroll Parlor. At a ceremony and dinner in Riggs Library on December
3, University president John J. DeGioia, Jr. accepted the generous
gift of the painting, donated by Michael J. Palko III, M.D. (M'85)
and presented by members of the McCooey and related families in
honor of Colleen M. Coyle, Esq. (C'84).
Many readers will be familiar with the painting. In recent years,
Georgetown University at the Second Millennium has become a famous
image of campus through the more than 1,000 limited offset lithographic
prints that have been sold through the Bookstore and ads in Georgetown
Magazine to alumni and admirers of the historic view. Bypassing
the Vault, the original was promptly installed in historic Healy
Hall outside of Riggs Library, where visitors to Georgetown will
have an opportunity to see it in its rich detail. The offset lithographic
prints now are sold through the Gala gallery on Wisconsin Avenue
in Georgetown.
The artist John Gable is a respected muralist and portraitist,
originally from Kentucky and now working in Maine. Previously,
he had been commissioned by Mr. McCooey to paint the interiors
of Clyde's restaurants, whose owners had purchased the three 36th
Street establishments. Mr. McCooey accompanied the artist on several
helicopter rides over Georgetown in preparation for executing
Georgetown University at the Second Millennium.
The Art Collection is extremely pleased to include Georgetown
University at the Second Millennium in the long tradition of documenting
Georgetown's history through the painted image.
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