Naturally, it was designed that the live-fish exhibit should be the prominent feature. Thirty-five aquaria were placed on two sides of the main aisle. Only prominent examples of various groups were displayed, consisting of game fishes, food fishes, the principal interior fishes commercially valuable as food, representatives of types which have no value either for game or food purposes and which were distinctively destructive, and also minnows.
The still exhibit was one of great beauty. The mounted groups were separated into two divisions, mounted fishes of the larger size and the mounted specimens of the birds and animals which prey upon fishes.
The greatest interest was probably shown in the exhibit of legally confiscated nets, draped in artistic fashion against a high board wall stained to represent a natural fence. Among them were placed fish on panels, which added materially to the effect. It was the only exhibit of its kind in the World's Fair, and it apparently proved to be one of the most attractive.
Pennsylvania responded enthusiastically to the invitation to participate in the general educational display in the Art Palace. Fully conscious of the ethical influence of art as a factor in the progress of the Commonwealth, the commissioners set aside funds to assist the Pennsylvania artists in displaying the best of their works produced since the Columbian Exposition—eleven years ago—and in a manner worthy of the State, which possesses the oldest art institute in the country and which gave birth to Benjamin West, Sully, Nagel, Rothemmel, and Abbey.
The State had important representation in all of the six groups in which the department had classified its exhibits.
The following table will show the extent of the participation:
Paintings and drawings …… 145
Etchings and engravings ….. 7
Sculpture ………………. 36
Architecture ……………. 104
Loan …………………… 14
Applied arts ……………. 107
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Total ………………….. 313
Pennsylvania sculpture was a striking feature of the impressive collection in the United States sculpture court of the Art Palace. The late Edmund C. Stewartson's work, "The Bather," one of the best productions of American sculpture, was installed here, and, among others, important works were shown of Charles Grafly, to whom was intrusted the designing of the official medal of awards for the exposition; of Alexander Sterling Calder, and of Samuel Murray, who exhibited many portrait busts of well-known Pennsylvanians. Architecture had as its Pennsylvania representation many well-known individuals and firms.
To the splendid collection of foreign masterpieces forming the loan collection of the United States section, borrowed from individual collectors and art institutions, Pennsylvania made sumptuous contributions.
The Pennsylvania display in the Department of Art was of the highest importance, and a comparison with the contributions of other States disclosed the fact that Pennsylvania stood second to only one other State in point of numbers.