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Sophie Gengembre Anderson was a French-born British artist who specialized in genre painting of children and women, typically in rural settings. Born in Paris in 1823, she began her career as a lithographer and painter of portraits, collaborating with Walter Anderson on portraits of American Episcopal bishops.
Early Life and Training
Anderson's father, Charles Antoine Colomb Gengembre, was a French architect and artist. Her mother was English, and the family lived in Paris during Sophie's early years. They were acquainted with artists, intellectuals, and actors, including François Joseph Talma. However, due to circumstances, the family left Paris and lived in a remote area in France from 1829 to 1843. At seventeen, Anderson developed an interest in art when a traveling portrait painter visited her town.
Artistic Career
Anderson was largely self-taught in art but briefly studied portraiture with Charles de Steuben in Paris around 1843. She gained relationships with other women artists at the school, which helped her gain more instruction. The family left France for the United States to escape the 1848 revolution and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Anderson met her future husband, Walter Anderson, a British genre artist.
Anderson's portrait, figure, and Brittany landscape paintings were exhibited at the Western Art Union Gallery in October 1849. Her work was also included in the Historical Collections of the Great West by Henry Howe. She collaborated with Walter Anderson on portraits of Protestant Episcopal bishops and created other portraits in her business.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
Some of Anderson's notable works include Elaine, which was the first public collection purchase of a woman artist. Her painting No Walk Today was purchased for more than £1 million. Anderson's work was widely exhibited at venues including the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA), and the British Institution.
Anderson made Italian genre and Neoclassical paintings, including paintings of peasant women and children. At a time when it was difficult for women to have a successful artistic career, these paintings allowed her to have a successful career.
Legacy and Later Life
Anderson moved to England in 1894 and painted and lived in Wood Lane Cottage in Falmouth, Cornwall. She continued to exhibit her work in London until her death on March 10, 1903. Her husband Walter died on January 11, 1903. Anderson was buried at Swanvale cemetery in Falmouth in the same grave as her husband.
Sophie Gengembre Anderson's work can be found in various museums and collections, including the National Gallery and the Musée d'Orsay. Her legacy as a pioneering female artist continues to inspire art lovers and historians alike. |
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