"The Blessing of Sleep," Study for a Poster for Paine's Celery Compound
Classification
graphic design
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Allyn Cox
Accession Number
1960-83-297
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Kenyon Cox (1856–1919), a prominent American artist trained in the classical Beaux-Arts tradition in Paris, created *The Blessing of Sleep* in 1899 as a study for a poster promoting's Celery Compound. patent medicine, popular in the late 19 century, promised relief from nervous exhaustion and insomnia through celery-based tonics—a common pitch in an era of rapid industrialization and urban stress. Cox, known for his murals and illustrations blending neoclassical idealism with modern commercial art, captured the theme of restorative slumber, reflecting the growing cultural fascination with heal...