Hannah Brown Skeele (1829–1901) was an American painter, best known for her

still-life A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (drinking glasses, boo ...

s, although she also produced portraits and pictures of animals.

Biography

Skeele was born in Kennebunkport, Maine. She was apparently self-taught and may have lived in New York for a few years before moving to St. Louis, where she lived and worked from 1858 to 1871. During those years, she was probably exposed to the still lifes of

John F. Francis John F. Francis (August 13, 1808 – November 15, 1886) was an American painter, primarily of still lifes. Biography Francis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Predominantly self-taught as an artist, he worked until 1845 as a portrait paint ...

, who exhibited there, and

Sarah Miriam Peale Sarah Miriam Peale (May 19, 1800 – February 4, 1885) was an American portrait painter, considered the first American woman to succeed as a professional artist. One of a family of artists of whom her uncle Charles Willson Peale was the most illu ...

, who was a resident.Biography
@ AskArt. Her first exhibition was with the

St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy ...

, shortly after her arrival.Biographical notes
@ the Schwarz gallery. Most of her paintings include elaborately carved bowls and vases with fruits and flowers in fine botanical detail. After returning to Maine, she found it necessary to support herself through portrait commissions from clergy, lawyers, university presidents and politicians such as Governor

Israel Washburn Jr. Israel Washburn Jr. (June 6, 1813 – May 12, 1883) was a United States political figure who was the Governor of Maine from 1861 to 1863. Originally a member of the Whig Party, he later became a founding member of the Republican Party. In 184 ...

This left her unable to create many more still lifes. She rarely signed her paintings, which has made attribution difficult. She died in Portland, Maine, in 1901.

References

External links

"Hannah Skeele exhibit at Brick Store Museum"
from the

Biddeford Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford Poo ...

Journal Tribune ''The Journal Tribune'' (and ''York County Weekend'') was a daily newspaper published in Biddeford, Maine, United States, circulated throughout the greater York County, Maine region. In 2003, the Saturday morning edition of the Journal Tribune ...

'' 3/23/1982
Missouri Remembers Artists Portal
1829 births 1901 deaths 19th-century American painters American still life painters American portrait painters Artists from Maine People from Kennebunkport, Maine American women painters {{US-painter-stub