Rosa was much pleased with her Scotch tour. She brought away a wonderful little Skye terrier, named “Wasp,” of the purest breed, and remarkably intelligent, which she holds in great affection. She has learned for its benefit several English phrases, to which “Wasp” responds with appreciative waggings of the tail.
Rosa Bonheur has avowed her determination never to marry. Determined to devote her life to her favorite art, she may be expected to produce a long line of noble works that will worthily maintain her present reputation; while the virtues and excellences of her private character will win for her an ever-widening circle of admiration and respect.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
The Practice of Art in America.—Number of women Artists increasing.—Prospect flattering.—Imperfection of Sketches of living Artists.—Rosalba Torrens.—Miss Murray.—Mrs. Lupton.—Miss Denning.—Miss O’Hara.—Mrs. Darley.—Mrs. Goodrich.—Miss Foley.—Miss Mackintosh and others.—Mrs. Ball Hughes.—Mrs. Chapin.—Sketch of Mrs. Duncan.—The Peale Family.—Anecdote of General Washington.—Mrs. Washington’s Punctuality.—Miss Peale an Artist in Philadelphia.—Paints Miniatures.—Copies Pictures from great Artists.—She and her Sister honorary Members of the Academy.—Her prosperous Career.—Paints with her Sister in Baltimore and Washington.—Marriage and Widowhood.—Return to Philadelphia.—Second Marriage.—Happy Home.—Mrs. Yeates.—Miss Sarah M. Peale.—Success.—Removal to St. Louis.—Miss Rosalba Peale.—Miss Ann Leslie.—Early Taste in Painting.—Visits to London.—Copies Pictures.—Miss Sarah Cole.—Mrs. Wilson.—Intense Love of Art.—Her Sculptures.—Her impromptu Modeling of Emerson’s Head.—Mrs. Cornelius Dubois.—Her Taste for the Sculptor’s Art.—Groups by her.—Studies in Italy.—Her Cameos.—Her Kindness to Artists.—Miss Anne Hall.—Early Love of Painting.—Lessons.—Copies old Paintings in Miniature.—Her original Pictures.—Her Merits of the highest Order.—Groups in Miniature.—Dunlap’s Praise.—Her Productions numerous.—Mary S. Legaré.—Her Ancestry.—Mrs. Legaré.—Early Fondness for Art shown by the Daughter.—Her Studies.—Little Beauty in the Scenery familiar to her.—Colonel Cogdell’s Sympathy with her.—Success in Copying.—Visit to the Blue Ridge.—Grand Views.—Paintings of mountain Scenery.—Removal to Iowa.—“Legaré College.”—Her Erudition and Energy.—Her Marriage.—Herminie Dassel.—Reverse of Fortune.—Painting for a Living.—Visit to Vienna and Italy.—Removal to America.—Success and Marriage.—Her social Virtues and Charity.—Miss Jane Stuart.—Mrs. Hildreth.—Mrs. Davis.—Mrs. Badger’s Book of Flowers.—Mrs. Hawthorne.—Mrs. Hill.—Mrs. Greatorex.—Mrs. Woodman.—Miss Gove.—Miss May.—Miss Granbury.—Miss Oakley.
In America the practice of art by woman is but in its commencement. Although many names of female artists are now familiar to the public, and the number is rapidly increasing, few have had time to accomplish all for which they may possess the ability. The prospect, however, is one most flattering to our national pride.
The sketches of living American women who are pursuing art are chiefly prepared from materials furnished by their friends. They are given in simplicity, and may appear imperfect, but we hope indulgence may be extended to them where they are inadequate to do justice to the subject.
Rosalba Torrens is mentioned by Ramsay, in his History of South Carolina, as a meritorious landscape-painter. Praise is also bestowed on Eliza Torrens, afterward Mrs. Cochran. Miss Mary Murray painted in crayons and water-colors in New York, and produced many life-sized portraits, which gained her celebrity. Madame Planteau painted in Washington about 1820, and was highly esteemed.
Dunlap mentions Mrs. Lupton as a modeler. She presented a bust of Governor Throop to the National Academy of Design in New York, of which she was an honorary member. Many of her paintings elicited high commendation. She executed many busts in clay, of her friends. There was hardly a branch of delicate workmanship in which she did not excel, and her literary attainments were varied and extensive. She was an excellent French scholar, and a proficient in Latin, Italian, and Spanish, besides having mastered the Hebrew sufficiently to read the Old Testament with ease. In English literature she was thoroughly versed, and was an advanced student in botany and natural history.
She was the daughter of Dr. Platt Townsend, and was married early in life. Mr. Lupton, a gentleman of high professional and literary attainments, resided in the city of New York. After his death his widow devoted herself to study, that she might be qualified to educate her young daughter, and, after the loss of this only child, pursued knowledge as a solace for her sorrows. Her talents and accomplishments, her elevated virtues and charities, and her attractive social qualities drew around her a circle of warm and admiring friends. She lived a short time in Canada, and died at the house of a relative on Long Island.
Miss Charlotte Denning, of Plattsburgh, is spoken of as a clever miniature-painter, and also Miss O’Hara, in New York. Miss Jane Sully (Mrs. Darley), the daughter of the celebrated artist, is mentioned as an artist of merit. Mrs. Goodrich, of Boston, painted an excellent portrait of Gilbert Stuart, which was engraved by Durand for the National Portrait Gallery. Her miniatures have great merit, and are marked by truth and expression.