Women artists in all ages and countries

by E. F. Ellet

Without consulting any one, with only twelve dollars in her possession, she left Boston in the early morning train, leaving her trunk behind, and taking only a basket with a few changes of clothes. The undertaking was not without prayers for a blessing from the Providence who watches over all human affairs. Her father needed all the aid she could give him; he had suffered much, and sickness in his family had crippled his narrow resources. The thought of all this, and what she might do were she permitted to work out her own ideas, had tortured Mary and rendered her desperate. In the ardor of her determination now, obstacles seemed nothing; she was resolved to succeed.

An old man who occupied a seat opposite her in the car noticed her, and asked many questions. When they stopped at Providence, his evident curiosity annoyed and alarmed her so much that she ran with all her speed to the boat bound for New York. On the way she talked with the stewardess, and asked if she knew any respectable house in the city where she could obtain board. The stewardess was ignorant of New York, but inquired of the clerk, and he directed Miss Pillsbury to the house of Professor Gouraud, a then famous dancing-master.

On repairing to this place she learned that the professor did not receive boarders, but was recommended to look for a house in Canal Street. Here it occurred to her to go to a milliner’s shop; she knew there must be many girls there, respectable, though poor, and thought that she might hear of a lodging through some of them. She received a direction to the house of an old lady, whither she went. On being asked for references, she frankly owned that she had none, and, as the best explanation she could offer, related her story. The landlady had heard through a pious friend in Boston—Mrs. Colby, a lady well known for benevolence—of the strange girl who wanted to be a painter, and she willingly received the wanderer.

The next day Miss Pillsbury found out that an artist lived in the neighborhood, and went to him to see how oil-colors were used. She was allowed to watch him while painting a portrait. Afterward she went to Dechaux, who then kept a small store for colors; and, provided with the implements of art, she went to work in earnest. The little grandson of her landlady was her first subject, and she painted a good likeness of him, which was taken in part payment for board. Even the artist was surprised at her success, and prophesied that she would do well after a year’s study.

After she had been a week in New York, her hostess advised Mary to go to Hartford, Connecticut, and gave her a letter to the Rev. Henry Jackson of that place. She went there, and was kindly received. While there, she painted a little boy, and produced an astonishing likeness. She had to prepare her own canvas, and grind her paints on a plate with a case-knife. In about a week after her arrival in Hartford, Squire Rider and his wife, of Willington, came on a visit to Mr. Jackson. They were so much pleased with the pictures Mary had produced, that they invited her to return home with them and paint the members of their family at five dollars a head. She was to prepare the canvas, while they would find paints.

Mrs. Colby, in the mean time, had written to Mr. Jackson, requesting him to advance money on her account to Miss Pillsbury, should it be necessary; but Mary had no need of more than she could earn. She wrote to Boston for her trunk, and received it. Her parents, by this time, had learned her whereabouts, and no longer opposed her wish for independence.

She made portraits of all the Riders, and of thirty other persons in Willington. Among her sitters were members of the family of Jonathan Weston, Esq. Several persons raised a sum by subscription to pay for the portrait of Miranda Vinton, the Burmese missionary. Miss Pillsbury had many offers of a home, and invitations to spend her time in different families, but she preferred living entirely for her art.

Returning to Hartford, she painted a few more portraits. Mr. Weston’s daughter became her particular friend, and Mary was always warmly welcomed by her in her father’s house.

The young lady’s uncle, Mr. Weston, of New York, came to pay his brother a visit, and took a great interest in Mary’s paintings. He urged her to come to New York, and improve herself by lessons and study. After his departure, she became once more possessed by an intense desire to revisit the city, and find some method of making more rapid progress. She received a letter from the gentleman’s daughter, inviting her to come at once to New York, where she could profit by the instruction of experienced artists. The prospect was an alluring one, but Miss Pillsbury felt that she could not afford to give herself the luxury of such lessons. She said this in her reply to the letter of invitation.

Shortly afterward another letter came from Miss Weston, urging her coming more earnestly. Her father, she said, would procure her a teacher, and would make arrangements for the winter. She was pressed to make her home at his house; and, should she not be successful in her undertaking, he pledged himself to see her safely back to her friends.