“1844-1929) U.S. painter and printmaker, active in Paris. Born in Allegheny City, Pa., she spend her early years traveling in Europe with her wealthy family. She attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (1860-65) and later studied in Paris, copying old masters. She became a close friend of E. Degas, who influenced her style and encouraged her to exhibit with the Impressionists, of whose work she became a tireless champion. She portrayed scenes of everyday life, particularly images of mothers and children, ans was skilled at drawing and printmaking. Some of her best works were executed in pastel. Through her social contacts with wealthy private collectors, she promoted Impressionism in the U.S. and exerted a lasting influence on U.S. taste.”
Excerpted from: Stevens, Mark A., Ed. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Encyclopedia. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, 2000.
