![Edwin forrest house01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Edwin_forrest_house01.jpg)
Philadelphia School of Design for Women (1848–1932) was an art school for women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Housed in the former Edwin Forrest House at 1346 North Broad Street, under the directorship of
Emily Sartain
Emily Sartain (March 17, 1841 – June 17, 1927) was an American painter and engraver. She was the first woman in Europe and the United States to practice the art of mezzotint engraving, and the only woman to win a gold medal at the 1876 World F ...
(1886–1920), it became the largest art school for women in the United States. Its faculty included
Robert Henri
Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher.
As a young man, he studied in Paris, where he identified strongly with the Impressionists, and determined to lead an even more dramatic revolt against A ...
,
Samuel Murray and
Daniel Garber
Daniel Garber (April 11, 1880 – July 5, 1958) was an American Impressionist landscape painter and member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known today for his large impressionist scenes of the New Hope area, in which he o ...
. In 1932, it merged into what is now the
Moore College of Art and Design
Moore College of Art & Design is a Private college, private art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its undergraduate programs are available only for female students, but its other educational programs, including graduate programs, are co-ed ...
.
History
Sarah Worthington King Peter
Sarah Anne Worthington King Peter (10 May 1800, Chillicothe, Ohio - 6 February 1877, Cincinnati) was an American philanthropist and patron of the arts.
Life
Sarah Anne Worthington was born on May 10, 1800, at Chillicothe, Ohio. Her father, Thoma ...
, wife of the British consul in Philadelphia, established an industrial arts school in her home in 1848 to teach women without a means of supporting themselves a trade. The school taught lithography, wood carving, and design, such as for household items like carpets and wallpaper. Peter's husband died soon after she established the school and she returned to her Cincinnati, Ohio home.
In 1850, Peter wrote to the
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a science museum and the center of science education and research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named after the American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin. It houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memori ...
about her drawing class of some 20 young women becoming a "co-operative, but separate branch" of the institute.
The Franklin Institute established and supervised the Philadelphia School of Design for Women from 1850 to 1853.
A group of 17 men were designated the incorporators of the school in 1853.
Elliott Cresson
Elliott Cresson (March 2, 1796 – February 20, 1854) was an American philanthropist who gave money to a number of causes after a brief career in the mercantile business. He established the Elliott Cresson Medal of the Franklin Institute in 184 ...
was among these 17 directors, and was elected president at the first meeting.
Scientific illustrator
Helen Elizabeth Lawson was appointed to the position of secretary of the school. It was the country's largest art school for women
and its students included
Emily Sartain
Emily Sartain (March 17, 1841 – June 17, 1927) was an American painter and engraver. She was the first woman in Europe and the United States to practice the art of mezzotint engraving, and the only woman to win a gold medal at the 1876 World F ...
,
Jessie Willcox Smith
Jessie Willcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935) was an American illustrator during the Golden Age of American illustration. She was considered "one of the greatest pure illustrators". A contributor to books and magazines during the lat ...
,
Alice Barber Stephens
Alice Barber Stephens (July 1, 1858 – July 13, 1932) was an American painter and engraver, best remembered for her illustrations. Her work regularly appeared in magazines such as ''Scribner's Monthly'', ''Harper's Weekly'', and ''The Ladies Ho ...
,
Elizabeth Shippen Green
Elizabeth Shippen Green (September 1, 1871 – May 29, 1954) was an American illustrator. She illustrated children's books and worked for publications such as ''The Ladies' Home Journal'', ''The Saturday Evening Post'' and ''Harper's Magazine''. ...
,
Annie Traquair Lang and
Alice Neel
Alice Neel (January 28, 1900 – October 13, 1984) was an American visual artist, who was known for her portraits depicting friends, family, lovers, poets, artists, and strangers. Her paintings have an expressionistic use of line and color, psyc ...
.
The first principal of the school was Anne Hill, who held the position from 1850 to 1852. She was followed by the artist Thomas Braidwood (1855-1873), who probably left due to disagreements with
John Sartain
John Sartain (October 24, 1808 – October 25, 1897) was an English-born American artist who pioneered mezzotint engraving in the United States.
Biography
John Sartain was born in London, England. He learned line engraving, and produced several o ...
, who served as Director of the school for 28 years. Elizabeth Croasdale took over as principal from 1873 to 1886, followed by Sartain's daughter
Emily Sartain
Emily Sartain (March 17, 1841 – June 17, 1927) was an American painter and engraver. She was the first woman in Europe and the United States to practice the art of mezzotint engraving, and the only woman to win a gold medal at the 1876 World F ...
from 1886 to 1920.
The 1875 Prospectus for the school lists its faculty as Charles Page, Teacher of Designing, Modelling, and Lithography; Peter Moran, Teacher of Landscape Painting in Oil and Water Colors; Stephen J. Ferris, Teacher of Drawing the Human Figure and Painting from the Antique and from Life; John Dalziel, Teacher of Wood Engraving; Rebecca N. Trump, Teacher of Free-hand Drawing and Flower Painting from Nature; and Sophia Freedley, Teacher of Object Drawing with Practical Perspective.
John Sartain was the school's leader until 1920.
In 1920 the position of principal was renamed dean, and Sartain's granddaughter,
Harriet Sartain, held that position from 1920 to 1946. Additional presidents are listed in the book Moore College of Art & Design by Sharon G. Hoffman with Amanda M. Mott.
Harriet Sartain implemented life-drawing classes at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, using draped male and nude women models, which was revolutionary at the time for women artists. Sartain created a professional program that was built upon technical and lengthy training and high standards. The women were taught to create works of art based upon three-dimensional and human forms, based upon her training in Paris and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
She was responsible for introducing important faculty members such as
Robert Henri
Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher.
As a young man, he studied in Paris, where he identified strongly with the Impressionists, and determined to lead an even more dramatic revolt against A ...
,
Samuel Murray and
Daniel Garber
Daniel Garber (April 11, 1880 – July 5, 1958) was an American Impressionist landscape painter and member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known today for his large impressionist scenes of the New Hope area, in which he o ...
.
In 1892, Robert Henri began teaching at the school. William Innes Homer said, "A born teacher, Henri enjoyed immediate success at the school."
Nina de Angeli Walls wrote,
In 1932 the Philadelphia School of Design for Women merged into the Moore Institute of Art, Science, and Industry. It is now the
Moore College of Art and Design
Moore College of Art & Design is a Private college, private art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its undergraduate programs are available only for female students, but its other educational programs, including graduate programs, are co-ed ...
,
which offers both a
Bachelor of Fine Arts
A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases.
Background
The Bachelor ...
degree and a
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in Art Education.
The
Edwin Forrest House
The Edwin Forrest House (a.k.a. Gaul-Forrest House) is a historic house and arts building at 1346 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Built in 1853–54, it was from 1880 until 1960 home to the Philadelphia School of Design for W ...
, the school's home between 1880 and 1959, was designated a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in recognition of its association with the school.
Faculty
*
Rae Sloan Bredin
Rae Sloan Bredin (9 September 1880 – 16 July 1933) was an American painter. He was a member of the New Hope, Pennsylvania school of impressionists.
He is known for his peaceful spring and summer landscapes with relaxed groups of women and chil ...
* Stephen James Ferris
*
Daniel Garber
Daniel Garber (April 11, 1880 – July 5, 1958) was an American Impressionist landscape painter and member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known today for his large impressionist scenes of the New Hope area, in which he o ...
*
Robert Henri
Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher.
As a young man, he studied in Paris, where he identified strongly with the Impressionists, and determined to lead an even more dramatic revolt against A ...
* Peter Moran
*
Samuel Murray
*
Leopold Seyffert
Leopold Seyffert ca. 1910
Leopold Gould Seyffert (January 6, 1887 – June 13, 1956) was an American artist. Born in California, Missouri and raised as a child in Colorado and then Pittsburgh, his career brought him eventually to New York City, ...
Students
*
Elenore Abbott
Elenore Plaisted Abbott (1875–1935) was an American book illustrator, scenic designer, and painter. She illustrated early 20th-century editions of ''Grimm's Fairy Tales,'' ''Robinson Crusoe'', and '' Kidnapped''. Several books were publishe ...
*
Theresa Bernstein
Theresa Ferber Bernstein-Meyerowitz (March 1, 1890 – February 13, 2002) was an American artist and writer born in Kraków, in what is now Poland, and raised in Philadelphia. She received her art training in Philadelphia and New York City. Over ...
*
Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton
Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton (March 25, 1889 – July 26, 1971) was an American artist, author, educator, ethnographer, and curator. She is one of the principal founders of the Museum of Northern Arizona. She was a member of the Philadel ...
*
Florence Esté
Florence Esté (1860 – April 25, 1926) was an American painter in oils born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She also worked in watercolors, pastels, and as an etcher and engraver. She was particularly well known for her landscapes, which were said to h ...
*
Lillian Genth
Lillian Mathilde Genth (1876 – March 28, 1953) was an American impressionist artist. She is best known for her depiction of female nudes in landscape settings. However, in the middle of her career she swore off painting female nudes and began p ...
*
Bessie Pease Gutmann
Bessie Pease Gutmann (1876 – 1960) was an American artist and illustrator, most noted for her paintings of putti, infants, and young children. During the early 1900s she was one of the better-known magazine and book illustrators in the United S ...
*
Charlotte Harding
Charlotte Harding (1873–1951) was an American illustrator. She signed her work with her maiden name, but her name in her personal life was Charlotte Harding Brown after she married James A. Brown in 1905. She illustrated magazines, such as ''The ...
*
Ella Sophonisba Hergesheimer
Ella Sophonisba Hergesheimer (January 7, 1873 – June 24, 1943) was an American illustrator, Painting, painter, and printmaker who painted and illustrated Tennessee society, including the state's women and children. As a printmaker, she pione ...
*
Edith Lucile Howard
*
Anna Russell Jones
Anna Russell Jones (1902, Jersey City, New Jersey – April 3, 1995, Germantown, Pennsylvania) was an African American artist known for her work in graphic, carpet, and textile design. Her papers are held at the African American Museum in Phila ...
*
Gertrude Alice Kay
Gertrude Alice Kay (January 30, 1884 – December 17, 1939) was an American children's literature illustrator and author best known for her work in fairy tales and beginner novels. She was active during America's Golden Age of Illustration.
...
*
Alice Kindler
*
Maria Louise Kirk
Maria Louise Kirk (21 June 1860 – 21 June 1938), usually credited as M. L. Kirk or Maria L. Kirk, was an American painter and illustrator of more than fifty books, most of them for children.
Her notable work includes illustrations for a US edi ...
["Kirk, Maria Louise" in Dorothy B. Gilbert (ed.), ''Who's Who in American Art'' (New York: R. R. Bowker Co. 1970), p. 123]
*
Annie Traquair Lang
*
Phoebe Davis Natt
Phoebe Davis Natt (1848–1899) was an American painter.
Biography
Natt was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on November 23, 1848. She studied at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts She also ...
*
Alice Neel
Alice Neel (January 28, 1900 – October 13, 1984) was an American visual artist, who was known for her portraits depicting friends, family, lovers, poets, artists, and strangers. Her paintings have an expressionistic use of line and color, psyc ...
*
Anne Parrish
Anne Parrish (November 12, 1888 – September 5, 1957) was an American novelist and writer of children's books. She was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal three times from 1925 to 1951.
Early life
Parrish was born November 12, 1888, in Colorado Sp ...
*
Deborah Griscom Passmore
Deborah Griscom Passmore (1840–1911) was a botanical illustrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture who specialized in paintings of fruit. Her work is now preserved in the USDA's Pomological Watercolor Collection, and she has been called th ...
*
Katharine Pyle
Katharine Pyle (November 23, 1863 – February 19, 1938) was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people, an influential member of the Pyle artistic family, active in Philadelphia during the late 19th and early 20th ce ...
*
Paulette Van Roekens
*
Jessie Willcox Smith
Jessie Willcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935) was an American illustrator during the Golden Age of American illustration. She was considered "one of the greatest pure illustrators". A contributor to books and magazines during the lat ...
*
Alice Barber Stephens
Alice Barber Stephens (July 1, 1858 – July 13, 1932) was an American painter and engraver, best remembered for her illustrations. Her work regularly appeared in magazines such as ''Scribner's Monthly'', ''Harper's Weekly'', and ''The Ladies Ho ...
See also
*
Timeline of women's colleges in the United States
The following is a timeline of women's colleges in the United States. These are institutions of higher education in the United States whose student population comprises exclusively, or almost exclusively, women. They are often liberal arts col ...
References
{{Coord, 39.974292, -75.159275, type:edu_globe:earth_region:US-PA, display=title
Art schools in Pennsylvania
Educational institutions established in 1850
Arts organizations established in 1850
1850 establishments in Pennsylvania
Educational institutions disestablished in 1932
1932 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
History of women in Pennsylvania