Mary Shepard Greene facts for kids

Mary Shepard Greene Blumenschein (born in 1869, died in 1958) was a talented American artist. She was also a great illustrator and designed beautiful jewelry.

About Mary's Early Life

Mary Shepard Greene was born in New York City. She was the second child of Rufus and Mary Isabel Shepard Greene. Her father, Rufus, was a successful businessman from Providence, Rhode Island. Mary went to school at the Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn. Later, she studied at the Pratt Institute.

Mary's Art Career

When Mary was just 17 years old, she traveled to Paris in 1886. There, she studied art with Raphaël Collin. Collin was a famous artist known for connecting with artists from Japan.

Un Regard Fugitif (A Fleeting Glance)

From 1906 to 1946, Mary showed her paintings at the National Academy of Design. This is a well-known art institution in the United States.

Life in Paris and New York

In Paris, in 1905, Mary met and married Ernest L. Blumenschein. He was also an artist. They moved back to New York in 1909. This was for the birth of their daughter, Helen. While in New York, Mary and Ernest taught at the Pratt Institute. They also created art for popular magazines. These included McClure’s, American, and Century.

Moving to Taos

Mary's husband, Ernest, first discovered Taos, New Mexico in 1898. He was stranded there after an accident. After that, he made summer trips to Taos every year. Mary usually stayed in New York during these trips. She made her first visit to Taos in 1913.

In 1919, the Blumenscheins became financially independent. This happened after Mary sold a house she had inherited. They decided to move to Taos permanently. They became part of the Taos Society of Artists. This was a group of artists who painted the landscapes and people of New Mexico.

Mary's painting called Acoma Legend was chosen for a special art show. It was part of the "American Art Today" exhibition. This show was held at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

Jewelry Design

In the 1920s, Mary went back to the Pratt Institute. This time, she studied how to make jewelry. Her jewelry was shown in 1956 at the Museum of International Folk Art. Today, some of her paintings are part of the collection at the Brooklyn Museum. In 2018, Mary Shepard Greene was featured in an exhibit called Women in Paris 1850-1900.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Shepard Greene Blumenschein received many awards for her art.

• In 1900, she won third place at the Paris Salon. The Salon was a very important art exhibition in Paris.
• In 1902, she won a Gold medal at the Paris Salon. She was only the second American woman to achieve this honor.
• In 1904, she received a silver medal in St. Louis. This was at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
• In 1915, she received the Julia A. Shaw Memorial Award. This award came from the National Academy of Design.