Art Appreciation
Eleanor Norcross was an influential American painter, best known for her paintings of Impressionist portraits, still lifes, and genteel interiors. She is said to have made significant contributions to the art world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Born on June 24, 1854 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Norcross afforded a privileged education, graduating from Fitchburg High School, then attending Wheton Female Seminary. She went on to study at Boston's Massachusetts Normal Art School, where she earned a teaching certificate. She taught drawing in the Fitchburg schools.
In 1878, Norcross studied art in New York City under William Merritt Chase at the Art Students League of New York. A few years later, she moved to Paris and became a student of Alfred Stevens. He would have a huge influence in her art. An impressionist, Norcross developed a distinct style using vibrant colors, delicate brush strokes, ability to portray reflections and textures, and an emphasis on capturing the play of light and shadow.
Her father provided Eleanor a comfortable living, with the agreement that she not sell her paintings. He felt women should give their works away and not enter into the male dominated art business.
A generous philanthropist, she donated some of her works to Wheaton College, she established the Norcross Foundation, which funded scholarships for art students and contributed to the preservation and promotion of art institutions. Additionally, the art she collected and the paintings she made became became part of the Fitchburg Art Museum.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/eleanor-norcross/
https://freedomsway.org/story/eleanor-norcross/
https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2013/07/31/salute-to-women-eleanor-norcross-artist-leaves-enduring-legacy-in-fitchburg-museum/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23929956?seq=1
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