Philadelphia School of Design for Women (1848–1932) was an art school for women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Housed in the former Edwin Forrest House at 1346 North Broad Street, under the directorship of Emily Sartain (1886–1920), it became the largest art school for women in the United States. Its faculty included

Robert Henri Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher. As a young man, he studied in Paris, where he identified strongly with the Impressionists, and determined to lead an even more dramatic revolt against A ...

, Samuel Murray and Daniel Garber. In 1932, it merged into what is now the

Moore College of Art and Design Moore College of Art & Design is a private art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its undergraduate programs are available only for female students, but its other educational programs, including graduate programs, are co-educational. Hist ...

History

Sarah Worthington King Peter Sarah Anne Worthington King Peter (10 May 1800, Chillicothe, Ohio - 6 February 1877, Cincinnati) was an American philanthropist and patron of the arts. Life Sarah Anne Worthington was born on May 10, 1800, at Chillicothe, Ohio. Her father, Thoma ...

, wife of the British consul in Philadelphia, established an industrial arts school in her home in 1848 to teach women without a means of supporting themselves a trade. The school taught lithography, wood carving, and design, such as for household items like carpets and wallpaper. Peter's husband died soon after she established the school and she returned to her Cincinnati, Ohio home. In 1850, Peter wrote to the

Franklin Institute The Franklin Institute is a science museum and the center of science education and research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named after the American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin. It houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memori ...

about her drawing class of some 20 young women becoming a "co-operative, but separate branch" of the institute. The Franklin Institute established and supervised the Philadelphia School of Design for Women from 1850 to 1853. A group of 17 men were designated the incorporators of the school in 1853.

Elliott Cresson Elliott Cresson (March 2, 1796 – February 20, 1854) was an American philanthropist who gave money to a number of causes after a brief career in the mercantile business. He established the Elliott Cresson Medal of the Franklin Institute in 184 ...

was among these 17 directors, and was elected president at the first meeting. Scientific illustrator Helen Elizabeth Lawson was appointed to the position of secretary of the school. It was the country's largest art school for women and its students included Emily Sartain,

Jessie Willcox Smith Jessie Willcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935) was an American illustrator during the Golden Age of American illustration. She was considered "one of the greatest pure illustrators". A contributor to books and magazines during the lat ...

Alice Barber Stephens Alice Barber Stephens (July 1, 1858 – July 13, 1932) was an American painter and engraver, best remembered for her illustrations. Her work regularly appeared in magazines such as ''Scribner's Monthly'', ''Harper's Weekly'', and ''The Ladies Ho ...

Elizabeth Shippen Green Elizabeth Shippen Green (September 1, 1871 – May 29, 1954) was an American illustrator. She illustrated children's books and worked for publications such as '' The Ladies' Home Journal'', ''The Saturday Evening Post'' and ''Harper's Magazine'' ...

, Annie Traquair Lang and

Alice Neel Alice Neel (January 28, 1900 – October 13, 1984) was an American visual artist, who was known for her portraits depicting friends, family, lovers, poets, artists, and strangers. Her paintings have an expressionistic use of line and color, psyc ...

. The first principal of the school was Anne Hill, who held the position from 1850 to 1852. She was followed by the artist Thomas Braidwood (1855-1873), who probably left due to disagreements with

John Sartain John Sartain (October 24, 1808 – October 25, 1897) was an English-born American artist who pioneered mezzotint engraving in the United States. Biography John Sartain was born in London, England. He learned line engraving, and produced several o ...

, who served as Director of the school for 28 years. Elizabeth Croasdale took over as principal from 1873 to 1886, followed by Sartain's daughter Emily Sartain from 1886 to 1920. The 1875 Prospectus for the school lists its faculty as Charles Page, Teacher of Designing, Modelling, and Lithography; Peter Moran, Teacher of Landscape Painting in Oil and Water Colors; Stephen J. Ferris, Teacher of Drawing the Human Figure and Painting from the Antique and from Life; John Dalziel, Teacher of Wood Engraving; Rebecca N. Trump, Teacher of Free-hand Drawing and Flower Painting from Nature; and Sophia Freedley, Teacher of Object Drawing with Practical Perspective. John Sartain was the school's leader until 1920. In 1920 the position of principal was renamed dean, and Sartain's granddaughter,

Harriet Sartain Harriet Sartain (December 26, 1873 – March 4, 1957) was an American artist, arts educator and college administrator. She was dean of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, which became part of the Moore College of Art and Design in 1 ...

, held that position from 1920 to 1946. Additional presidents are listed in the book Moore College of Art & Design by Sharon G. Hoffman with Amanda M. Mott. Harriet Sartain implemented life-drawing classes at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, using draped male and nude women models, which was revolutionary at the time for women artists. Sartain created a professional program that was built upon technical and lengthy training and high standards. The women were taught to create works of art based upon three-dimensional and human forms, based upon her training in Paris and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She was responsible for introducing important faculty members such as

, Samuel Murray and Daniel Garber. In 1892, Robert Henri began teaching at the school. William Innes Homer said, "A born teacher, Henri enjoyed immediate success at the school." Nina de Angeli Walls wrote, In 1932 the Philadelphia School of Design for Women merged into the Moore Institute of Art, Science, and Industry. It is now the

, which offers both a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachel ...

degree and a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

in Art Education. The Edwin Forrest House, the school's home between 1880 and 1959, was designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places liste ...

in recognition of its association with the school.

Faculty

* Rae Sloan Bredin * Stephen James Ferris * Daniel Garber *

* Peter Moran * Samuel Murray *

Leopold Seyffert Leopold Seyffert ca. 1910 Leopold Gould Seyffert (January 6, 1887 – June 13, 1956) was an American artist. Born in California, Missouri and raised as a child in Colorado and then Pittsburgh, his career brought him eventually to New York City, ...

Students

* Elenore Abbott * Theresa Bernstein * Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton * Florence Esté * Lillian Genth * Bessie Pease Gutmann *

Charlotte Harding Charlotte Harding (1873–1951) was an American illustrator. She signed her work with her maiden name, but her name in her personal life was Charlotte Harding Brown after she married James A. Brown in 1905. She illustrated magazines, such as ''The ...

* Ella Sophonisba Hergesheimer * Edith Lucile Howard * Anna Russell Jones * Gertrude Alice Kay * Alice Kindler *

Maria Louise Kirk Maria Louise Kirk (21 June 1860 – 21 June 1938), usually credited as M. L. Kirk or Maria L. Kirk, was an American painter and illustrator of more than fifty books, most of them for children. Her notable work includes illustrations for a US edi ...

"Kirk, Maria Louise" in Dorothy B. Gilbert (ed.), ''Who's Who in American Art'' (New York: R. R. Bowker Co. 1970), p. 123 * Annie Traquair Lang * Phoebe Davis Natt *

* Anne Parrish *

Deborah Griscom Passmore Deborah Griscom Passmore (1840–1911) was a botanical illustrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture who specialized in paintings of fruit. Her work is now preserved in the USDA's Pomological Watercolor Collection, and she has been called th ...

* Katharine Pyle * Paulette Van Roekens *

References

{{Coord, 39.974292, -75.159275, type:edu_globe:earth_region:US-PA, display=title Art schools in Pennsylvania Educational institutions established in 1850 Arts organizations established in 1850 1850 establishments in Pennsylvania Educational institutions disestablished in 1932 1932 disestablishments in Pennsylvania History of women in Pennsylvania

History

Faculty

Students

See also

References