Elizabeth Nourse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Nourse
self-portrait from 1892
Born	(1859-10-26)October 26, 1859 Mount Healthy, Ohio
Died	October 8, 1938(1938-10-08) (aged 78) Paris, France
Nationality	American
Education	McMicken School of Design, Académie Julian, Gustave Boulanger, Art Students League of New York
Known for	Painting
Movement	Realist
Awards	1921 Laetare Medal (Notre Dame University); Gold Medal, Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, San Francisco (1915)
Elected	Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts

Elizabeth Nourse (born October 26, 1859 – died October 8, 1938) was a talented American painter. She was known for her realistic paintings of everyday life, portraits, and landscapes. She also worked on decorative art and sculptures. Many people at the time called her "the first woman painter of America." She was also the first American woman to be voted into a famous French art group called the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

One of her paintings was even bought by the French government. It became part of the permanent collection at the Musée du Luxembourg! Nourse's art style showed real people and their lives, often focusing on social themes. You can see some of her paintings at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Biography of Elizabeth Nourse

Early Life and Art Training

A portrait by Nourse of Benn Pitman, who taught her woodcarving and decorative crafts.

Elizabeth Nourse was born on October 26, 1859, in Mount Healthy, Ohio. She had a twin sister named Adelaide. They were the youngest of ten children in their family.

When she was 15, Elizabeth started studying at the McMicken School of Design in Cincinnati. She was one of the first women allowed into a special class for drawing from live models. She also learned to paint with watercolors. Elizabeth studied art for seven years. She was even offered a teaching job, but she decided to focus on her own painting instead.

In 1882, both of Elizabeth's parents passed away. With help from someone who supported her art, she went to New York City. She briefly studied at the Art Students League of New York. There, she met another famous artist, William Merritt Chase. By 1883, she was back in Cincinnati. She earned a living by decorating homes and painting portraits. For a few summers, from 1884 to 1886, she painted watercolor landscapes in the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee.

Moving to Paris, France

In 1887, Elizabeth moved to Paris, France. Her older sister, Louise, came with her. Louise was Elizabeth's companion, manager, and hostess for the rest of her life. In Paris, Elizabeth studied at the Académie Julian. She learned from famous teachers like Gustave Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre.

Elizabeth was already a skilled artist when she arrived in Paris. She quickly finished her studies and opened her own art studio. In 1888, her work was shown in a big exhibition at the Société des Artistes Français. She often painted women, especially peasants, and scenes from the French countryside.

Even though she lived mostly in Paris, Nourse traveled a lot. She visited many places in Europe, Russia, and North Africa. She painted the people she met during her travels.

A "New Woman" Artist

Elizabeth Nourse was part of a group called the "New Women" of the 19th century. These were successful, well-trained women artists who chose not to marry. Other artists like Mary Cassatt and Cecilia Beaux were also part of this group.

These "New Women" artists created powerful self-portraits. They showed themselves as strong individuals. They were not afraid to challenge old ideas about women's roles in society. Their portraits from the 1880s and 1890s show energetic, confident, and accomplished women.

Later Life and Helping During World War I

During World War I, many Americans living in Paris went back home. But Elizabeth Nourse stayed. She worked to help people who had to leave their homes because of the war. She asked her friends in the United States and Canada for donations to help these refugees.

In 1921, she received the Laetare Medal from Notre Dame University. This award honors Catholic people who have done great service for humanity.

Elizabeth Nourse retired later in life. When her sister Louise passed away in 1927, Elizabeth became ill and sad. She had surgery for breast cancer in 1920. The cancer returned in 1937, and she passed away on October 8, 1938.

Gallery

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  Fisher Girl of Picardy, a notable painting illustrative of her style. At the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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  Happy Days, 1905

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  Head of an Algerian, 1898. New Britain Museum of American Art

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  Meditation, 1902.

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  Head of a Girl, c 1882. Cincinnati Art Museum

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  La mere (The Mother), 1888. Cincinnati Art Museum

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  Woman with a Harp, 1887. Cincinnati Art Museum

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  Moorish Boy, 1897. Cincinnati Art Museum

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  Venice, watercolor over traces of pencil, 1891. Cincinnati Art Museum

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  Breton Interior, 1907.

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  The Kiss (Le Baiser), c. 1906, pastel and charcoal on paper, mounted on board. Clark Art Institute.

Awards and Recognition

Elizabeth Nourse received many honors for her artwork:

• 1893 - Medal at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
• 1897 - Medal from the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
• 1897 - Medal at the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in Nashville.
• 1900 - Medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.
• 1915 - Gold Medal at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition in San Francisco.

She was also a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France.