Emma Mendenhall (March 15, 1873 – March 25, 1964) was an American landscape, portrait and still life painter. A lifelong resident of Cincinnati, where she taught at the Oakhurst School, Mendenhall also traveled widely, incorporating scenes of Europe and North America into her work.

Early life and education

Emma Mendenhall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the eldest daughter of Charles and Fannie Mendenhall. She was the niece of Cincinnati art patron and philanthropist Mrs. Larz Anderson, a connection which helped her become a part of local society. Mendenhall attended classes at the

Art Academy of Cincinnati The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private college of art and design in Cincinnati, Ohio, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. It was founded as the McMicken School of Design in 1869, and was a department of the U ...

from 1890 to 1914, where she studied with Vincent Nowottny and

Frank Duveneck Frank Duveneck (né Decker; October 9, 1848 – January 3, 1919) was an American figure and portrait painter. Early life Duveneck was born in Covington, Kentucky, the son of German immigrant Bernhard Decker. Decker died in a cholera epidemic whe ...

. She also studied at the

Julian Academy Julian may refer to: People * Julian (emperor) (331–363), Roman emperor from 361 to 363 * Julian (Rome), referring to the Roman gens Julia, with imperial dynasty offshoots * Saint Julian (disambiguation), several Christian saints * Julian (give ...

in Paris with Jules Lefebrvre, with

William Merritt Chase William Merritt Chase (November 1, 1849October 25, 1916) was an American painter, known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons School of Design. ...

at the

Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art The Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art was summer school of art in Shinnecock Hills, Long Island that existed from 1891 to 1902. The director was William Merritt Chase. The school was one of the first and most popular ''plein air'' painting sch ...

, and Charles Woodbury at his Ogunquit, Maine summer school.

Career

Mendenhall taught at the Oakhurst School in Cincinnati, but she also traveled extensively with her friend and fellow artist

Dixie Selden Dixie Selden (February 28, 1868November 15, 1935) was an American artist. She studied with Frank Duveneck, who was a mentor and significant influence, and William Merritt Chase, who introduced her to Impressionism. Selden painted portraits of Ame ...

. The pair traveled to France, Mexico, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, China, Japan, Morocco, England and the Holy Land. Mendenhall often spent summers along the New England coast, where she painted with Annie Gooding Sykes. Known for her impressionistic watercolors, Mendenhall also worked with oil and pastel. She produced portraits, landscapes, travel scenes, flowers and still lifes. Her art was shown 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 ...

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is a museum and private art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Cincinnati Art Museum The Cincinnati Art Museum is an art museum in the Eden Park neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1881, it was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies, and is one of the oldest in the United States. Its collection of ov ...

, including a 1910 exhibition of her works with those of Dixie Selden and Annie G. Sykes. Mendenhall was a member of the

American Watercolor Society The American Watercolor Society, founded in 1866, is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to the advancement of watercolor painting in the United States. Qualifications AWS judges the work of a painter before granting admission to the soc ...

from 1921 to 1964. She was also a member of the

National Arts Club The National Arts Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and members club on Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1898 by Charles DeKay, an art and literary critic of the ''New York Times'' to "stimulate, foster, and promote public ...

, the Washington Water Color Club, the Women's Art Club of Cincinnati, the Professional Artists of Cincinnati, the 3 Arts Club, and the MacDowell Club.

Collections

Cincinnati Art Museum The Cincinnati Art Museum is an art museum in the Eden Park neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1881, it was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies, and is one of the oldest in the United States. Its collection of ov ...

: ''Street Scene, Brittany'' *

Indianapolis Museum of Art The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is an encyclopedic art museum located at Newfields, a campus that also houses Lilly House, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres, the Gardens at Newfields, the Beer Garden, and more. It i ...

: ''A Warm Day in the Market San Miguel d'Allende''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendenhall, Emma American portrait painters 1873 births 1964 deaths American landscape painters Painters from Cincinnati Art Academy of Cincinnati alumni Académie Julian alumni American Impressionist painters 20th-century American women painters