Philadelphia Ten Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
The Philadelphia Ten
Members of the Philadelphia Ten at their Art Club of Philadelphia exhibition, January 28 – February 11, 1928.
Formation	1917
Dissolved	1945; 80 years ago (1945)
Purpose	arts organization for women to promote members' works
Headquarters	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Ten, also called The Ten, was a special group of American women artists. They showed their artwork together for many years, from 1917 to 1945. This group eventually included 30 painters and sculptors. They held yearly art shows in Philadelphia. Later, their exhibitions traveled to museums all along the East Coast and in the Midwest.

Why the Philadelphia Ten Was Formed
- Helping Women Artists Succeed
History and Impact of the Group
Members of The Philadelphia Ten
Images for kids
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Why the Philadelphia Ten Was Formed

The Philadelphia Ten was created to help women artists. In the early 1900s, many people thought of women's art as just a hobby. This group wanted women to be seen as professional artists.

Helping Women Artists Succeed

One main goal was to let women control how their art was shown. They could decide how many artists would be in a show. This allowed each artist to display more of their work. Usually, in art competitions, artists could only show a few pieces.

The group also offered a supportive place for creativity. Members could talk about their art and get advice. They had access to models and professional art lessons. Many members made unusual choices for their time. Some never married, while others who did marry chose not to have children. Many also kept their maiden names. For these women, the group became a source of strong friendships and professional connections.

History and Impact of the Group

The first show by The Philadelphia Ten happened in February 1917. It was held at the Art Club of Philadelphia. This first exhibition featured 247 paintings. These works were by 11 artists. Nine of these artists trained at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. This school is now called Moore College of Art and Design. The other two artists studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Growth and Final Exhibitions

Over the years, more women joined the group. In total, 30 artists participated in 65 exhibitions. The very last show by The Philadelphia Ten took place in April 1945. It was held at the Woodmere Gallery in Philadelphia.

The artworks displayed by the group showed the influence of their teachers. For example, Henry B. Snell was an Impressionist painter. The art included different types of paintings. There were landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. The group also featured sculptures.

Remembering Their Legacy

In 1998, the Moore College of Art and Design celebrated its 150th anniversary. The college faculty organized a special exhibition of The Philadelphia Ten's work. This show traveled to museums across the country. It included 81 paintings and 9 sculptures.

In 2010, Moore College showed more archived pieces. These works were from the 1920s to the 1940s. They featured seven of the first eleven members of The Philadelphia Ten. The college also displayed new works by a group called The Other Woman art collective. This collective was also formed by former students of the college.

The Philadelphia Ten's Place in Art History

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many art groups for women were formed. These groups held their own exhibitions. The Ladies' Art Association of New York was one of the first. Other groups included The Plastic Club in Philadelphia and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors in New York. However, The Philadelphia Ten is known for exhibiting their art more widely and for a longer time than other similar groups.

Members of The Philadelphia Ten

All the artists who were part of The Philadelphia Ten went to art school in Philadelphia. The group started with 11 painters. Over time, it grew to include 23 painters and 7 sculptors. These artists were generally not focused on very new, experimental art styles like modernism. Because of this, their work is not always found in major museum collections today. However, their art was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. This was a time when artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse were not yet well-known in the United States.