Elizabeth Nourse (1859 - 1938)

Elizabeth Nourse was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. At age 15, she began studying art and developed the richly colorful technique for which she is known. In addition to painting, she also studied drawing, woodcarving, sculpting, and painting on china which was considered a very appropriate pastime for ladies. In 1887 she and her older sister traveled to Paris where she had a chance to study with two of the leading artists of the time. Her painting La Mère (The Mother) was accepted at the Paris Salon, a prestigious art gallery which established her reputation. She spent the rest of her life in Paris, although she traveled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa, which was one of her favorite places. She spent a year there and one of her most well-known pictures, Moorish Prince, was done during that time. "Oriental" or exotic subjects were very popular especially in France, so Elizabeth's paintings were well received. She was also known for her pictures of domestic life, florals, gardens, and portraits, especially of women with children. In addition to a number of galleries in Europe and the U.S., her artwork was also displayed at the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893, the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, and the Panama-Pacific Exhibition in 1915. Elizabeth Nourse died in Paris in 1938.