Emma Stebbins

Emma Stebbins (September 1, 1815 - October 25, 1882) was among the first notable American woman sculptors.

Career

Born and raised in a wealthy New York family, Stebbins was encouraged by her family in her pursuit of art from an early age. In 1857, sponsored by her brother Col. Henry G. Stebbins, head of the New York Stock Exchange, she moved to Rome where she moved in with sculptor Harriet Hosmer, who had established herself there in 1852. She studied under John Gibson an English neoclassicist working there at that time. In Rome she fell in love with actress Charlotte Saunders Cushman, and quickly became involved in the bohemian and feminist lesbian lifestyle, which was more tolerated there than it would have been back in New York.citation |title=Stebbins, Emma |year=2002 |url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/stebbins_e.html |first=Tee A. |last=Corinne |periodical=glbtq.com |accessdate=2007-11-30]

Cushman was confidant, strong, and charismatic, and recently recovering from a break up following a ten-year relationship with the actress Matilda Hays. Cushman and Stebbins began travelling together, immediately taking a trip to Naples. Upon their return, they began spending time in a circle that included African American/Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis, many celebrities, and fellow lesbians that included Harriet Hosmer. In this environment, the women flourished without regard for showing outward affection for one another.

One of Stebbins' early commissions was a portrait bust of Cushman between 1859-1860. In 1869, Cushman was treated for breast cancer. Stebbins devoted all her time during that ordeal to nursing her lover, ignoring her work during the next two years. The following year, the couple returned to the United States. Cushman died of pneomonia in 1876 at the age of 59. Following the death of Cushman, Stebbins never produced another sculpture. She released the correspondence, "Charlotte Cushman: Her Letters and Memories of Her Life" in 1878. Stebbins died in New York in 1882, at the age of 67.

Works

Stebbins best known work is the "Angel of the Waters", 1873,also known as Bethesda Founrtain, located on the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, New York. According to Central Park historian Sara Cedar Miller, Stebbins received the commission for the sculpture as a result of influence from her brother Henry, who at the time was president of the Central Park Board of Commissioners. Henry was proud of his sister's talent and hoped to have many examples of her art in Central Park.

'Angel of the Waters," created to celebrate the clean healthful water from New York's Croton Aqueduct, completed in 1842, with an oblique reference to the biblical "healing waters of Bethesda". The fountain complex is widely considered to be one of the great works of nineteenth century American sculpture.

Her bronze statue of educator Horace Mann was installed outside the State House in Boston in 1865.

Stebbins is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, New York.

References

* Opitz, Glenn B , Editor, Mantle Fielding’s Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers, Apollo Book, Poughkeepsie NY, 1986
* Rubenstein, Charlotte Streifer, American Women Sculptors, G.K. Hall & Co., Boston 1990
* Sherwood, Dolly, Harriet Hosmer, American Sculptor 1830-1908, University of Missouri Press, 1991

External links

* [http://www.centralparknyc.org/virtualpark/southend/bethesdaangel/ Official Website Central Park: Angel of the Waters Fountain]