Artist Biography

Minerva CHAPMAN
1858 - 1947

Minerva Josephine Chapman (1858-1947) was born in Altmar, New York on December 6, 1858. After attending Mount Holyoke College and the University of Chicago, she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. By 1889 she was in Paris where she further studied at Académie Julian under Robert-Fleury, Bouguereau, Courtois, and Lasar. A peripatetic artist, she was back in Chicago in 1900; elected a member of the Friday Club in National, California in 1901; and returned to France in 1903. During 1915-17 she again lived in San Diego. After several years in Paris, in 1925 she settled in Palo Alto, California where she remained until her death on June 14, 1947. Best known as a miniature painter, she also painted full-size landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and quiet interiors. Her palette prior to 1895 included bright greens and blues; whereas, after that time she used a more somber one of purple, gray, and russet. Member: California Society of Miniature Painters. Exhibited: World's Columbian Expo (Chicago), 1893; Paris Salon, 1899-1926; Société Nationale des Beaux Arts (Paris), 1897, 1905, 1909; Pan-American Expo (Buffalo), 1901; Panama-California Expo (San Diego), 1915 (two gold medals); Palo Alto Art Club, 1929 (solo); California Society of Miniature Painters, 1929 (gold medal), 1931 (first prize), 1936; Century of Progress Expo (Chicago), 1933; Mount Holyoke College, 1986 (retrospective). Works held: National Museum of American Art.

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