Blanche Nevin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blanche Nevin
Blanche Nevin
Born	1841 (1841) Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	1925 (aged 83–84)
Nationality	American
Education	Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Royal Art Academy in Venice
Known for	Sculpture

Blanche Nevin (1841–1925) was an American artist and poet. She is known as one of America's first important women sculptors. She is most famous for her sculpture of Peter Muhlenberg. He was a general during the American Revolutionary War. This statue is displayed in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol.

Blanche Nevin's Early Life and Education

Blanche Nevin was born in 1841 in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Her father, Dr. John Williamson Nevin, was a teacher and minister. In 1855, her family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This was because her father became the president of Franklin & Marshall College.

Blanche Nevin studied art at several places. She attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She also studied at the Royal Art Academy in Venice, Italy. She learned more about sculpting in Carrara, Italy. Besides her studies, she traveled to faraway places like China and Japan. She often spent half the year at her home, Windsor Forge Mansion. The other half she spent traveling or studying abroad.

Her Career and Famous Works

Maud Muller, a marble statue by Blanche Nevin.

Blanche Nevin created a marble statue called Maud Muller. She showed this statue at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. This was a big fair celebrating 100 years of American independence. She also displayed it again at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. There, it was placed in the special Woman's Building. Today, this statue is owned by the Iris Club in Lancaster.

Peter Muhlenberg statue by Nevin.

In 1889, Blanche Nevin was asked to sculpt a statue of Peter Muhlenberg. This statue was made for the state of Pennsylvania. It is now located in the United States Capitol crypt in Washington, D.C. She also sculpted a bust (a head and shoulders statue) of President Woodrow Wilson.

Nevin created other sculptures in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. These include "Lion in the Park" (1905) at Reservoir Park. She also made a horse drinking fountain (1898). This fountain is at the corner of Columbia Avenue and West Orange Street.

Blanche Nevin was also a poet. Some of her poems include "Great-Grandma’s Looking-Glass" (1895) and "One Usual Day" (1916). Her poems can be found at the Lancaster Historical Society in Pennsylvania.

In 1899, she bought Windsor Forge Mansion. This historic house was once owned by her grandfather, Robert Jenkins. He was a politician and ironmaster. Blanche Nevin restored the mansion and added a studio for her art. In 1913, she gave the property to her nephew. The mansion grounds still have three sculptures made by Nevin.

Legacy of Blanche Nevin

Blanche Nevin's life and artwork are featured in a book. It is called The Lion In The Park by Phyllis J.S. Brubaker.

Images for kids

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  Blanche Nevin at Windsor Forge, around 1920.