Chicago Society of Miniature Painters was founded to promote the work of

miniature portrait A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques of the miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, and were popular among 16th-century el ...

painters of

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. The society held annual exhibits starting in 1912 and continued to at least 1944. Though a society of ''Chicago'' miniature portrait painters, miniature portrait painters from other American cities were later invited to exhibit their work at the annual exhibits.

Founding Members

Founding members included Anna Lynch,

Eda Nemoede Casterton Eda Nemoede Casterton (April 14, 1877 – November 15, 1969) was an American painter known specifically for her portrait miniatures in watercolor, pastels and oil. She exhibited works at the Paris Salon and the San Francisco Panama–Pacific Inte ...

, Carolyn D. Tyler, Marian Dunlap Harper, Magda Heuermann, Katherine Wolcott, Mabel Packard, Kate Bacon Bond,

Edward William Carlson Edward William Carlson was an American painter known specifically for his miniature portraits. He exhibited works at the Art Institute of Chicago, Arts Club of Chicago, Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, Royal Academy of Fine Arts () in Stockholm, Sw ...

, Frances M. Beem, Eva L. Carman, Helen B. Slutz, Evelyn Purdie, Edna Amelia Robeson and Alden F. Brooks.

Exhibitions

Sixth Annual Exhibition (1918)

In 1918 the ''Chicago Tribune'' wrote that the Society's Sixth Annual Exhibition was "decidedly reserved" adding that "Delicate handling is evident throughout and no desire has been shown by any of the artists to indulge in experiments". Throughout the years American artists from various parts of the country had been featured in the exhibitions including Edna Robeson's ivory medallion, called "My Sister"; Theodora Larsh, a miniature painter from Indiana; and a painting called "The Girl With Red Hair" by New York artist William J. Whittemore.

Eighth Annual Exhibition (1920)

The Eighth Annual Exhibition by the Chicago Society of Miniature Painters in 1920 was held at The Art Institute Exhibition at the

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago's Grant Park, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 mill ...

. The annual Chicago exhibit had grown to included works by miniature painters, all women, from Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Newark, N. J.,

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...

Davenport, Iowa Davenport is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States. Located along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of the state, it is the largest of the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area with a population of 384,324 and a ...

and other smaller cities in the eastern USA. These artists were Anna Lynch, Magda Heuermann, Carolyn Tyler, Marian Dunlap Harper,

Anna Margaretta Archambault Anna Margaretta Archambault (1856–1956) was an American artist and author. She is best known for her 1924 book ''A Guide Book of Art, Architecture, and Historic Interests in Pennsylvania'', which remains in print as of 2020. Life Born in 1856 ...

Rosina Cox Boardman Rosina Cox Boardman (1878–1970) was an American painter of portrait miniatures and botanical illustrations. Early life Born in New York City in 1878, Boardman was a descendant of several of the oldest families in the state, including the Livin ...

, Marie-Marguerite Frechette,

Laura Coombs Hills Laura Coombs Hills (1859–1952) was an American artist and illustrator who specialized in watercolor and pastel still life paintings, especially of flowers, and miniature portrait paintings on ivory. She became the first miniature painter elected ...

, Nancy B. Robinson and Caroline King Phillip.

National Miniature Exhibit (1933)

Artists representing the ''Chicago Society of Miniature Painters'' exhibited their work at the

A Century of Progress International Exposition A Century of Progress International Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair, was a world's fair held in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, from 1933 to 1934. The fair, registered under the Bureau International des Expositio ...

, also known as the ''Chicago World's Fair'' held from 1933 to 1934. Along with the Chicago Society were artists representing the

American Society of Miniature Painters The American Society of Miniature Painters (ASMP) was an association of miniature painters, organized in March 1899. The ten founding members of the ASMP included Virginia Richmond Reynolds, Isaac A. Josephi, William Jacob Baer, Alice Beckington ...

, the ''Brooklyn Society of Miniature Painters'', the ''California Society of Miniature Painters'' and the ''Pennsylvania Society of Miniature Painters''. The twenty-four artists representing the ''Chicago Society of Miniature Painters'' were mostly, or perhaps all, women.

References

{{Reflist Art societies Artist groups and collectives based in Chicago American portrait painters Miniature painting Artists from Chicago Portrait art