Cassatt Experts
Mary Cassatt
Biography
Mary Cassatt was born May 22, 1844 to a privileged family. She studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, despite the fact that women could not graduate and were not allowed to use live models. In 1866, Cassatt traveled to Paris where she hired professors from the École des Beaux Arts, including Jean-Leon Gerome and Charles Chaplin for private instruction, because women could not enroll officially at the university. Cassatt’s painting, titled A Mandoline Player, was accepted at the Salon in 1868.
Cassatt returned to America in 1870 to a hostile home environment and poor sales. Cassatt’s father encouraged her to pursue conventional female duties and refused to pay for her supplies and art career, providing her only with a minimal living stipend. In 1871, Cassatt moved to Chicago to pursue further opportunities.
Mother and Child (The Oval Mirror), 1889
Maternal Caress, 1891
However, many of her works were lost in the Great Chicago Fire. Despite these setbacks, Cassatt was approached by the Archbishop of Pittsburg to commission the copying of two Corregio paintings in Parma, Italy.
After completing the commissions, Cassatt toured Madrid and Seville and painted a group of works including, Spanish Dancer Wearing a Lace Mantilla, in 1873. Cassatt subsequently moved to Paris in 1874 with her sister, Lydia, and decided to paint portraits to earn a living.
By 1877, Cassatt had showed numerous works in the Salon in Paris and was approached by Degas to join the Impressionists. Cassatt would continue to study with Degas, learning copper etching and pastels. Cassatt remained with the Impressionists until 1886.
When Cassatt’s health and artistic output began to decline around 1900, she began to support the Women’s Suffrage movement.
Mother Feeding Child, 1898
Mary Cassatt
In 1915, Cassatt hosted an exhibition containing 18 pieces as a fundraiser to support the movement.
Cassatt died June 14, 1926 at the Chateau de Beaufresne. She is buried at Mesnil-Theribus, France.