Two typescript copies of Romaine Brooks's untitled memoir. Brooks describes her professional and personal life covering her upbringing and education, including her experiences as a student at the Scuola Nazionale and the Académie Colarossi, to her life as an expatriate American in Paris and Capri. Brooks, who remained in Europe during World War One and World War Two, also provides insight into her wartime experiences. Her career as an artist is also richly documented in the memoir, which includes descriptions of her sitters, ranging from well-known figures such as Gabriele D'Annunzio to lesser known models, and her views on art and her working methods. Brooks also discusses her relationship with her partner Natalie Clifford Barney.
Description:
Gift of Norman Holmes Pearson. and Romaine Brooks (1874-1970) was an American painter. She studied at the Scuola Nazionale (1896-1897) in Rome and the Académie Colarossi (1899) in Paris. Her first one-person exhibition was at the Galerie Durand-Ruel (1910). Brooks is well-known for her portraits, usually in a grey palette, of women in masculine dress.
Subject (Geographic):
Paris (France)--Intellectual life--20th century
Subject (Name):
Barney, Natalie Clifford, Brooks, Romaine, and D'Annunzio, Gabriele, 1863-1938
Subject (Topic):
Americans--France, LGBTQ resource, Painters--France, Painters--Italy, Painters--United States, Women artists, Women painters, World War, 1914-1918--Art and the war, World War, 1914-1918--France, and World War, 1914-1918--Personal narrative, American
Collection consists of 34 pieces of correspondence, including autograph letters, postcards, and holiday cards, from O'Keeffe to Susan and Alexander Girard, and their daughter Sansi Needham Girard Agnew. The Girards were residents of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and most letters discuss personal topics, including plans for visits to each others' homes. Also included are invitations to openings at museums exhibiting O'Keeffe's work which were sent on her behalf. The collection holds 23 snapshot photographs of O'Keeffe, the Girards, and others at events, gatherings, and on travels, and plus some scenery in New Mexico, and a portrait of O'Keeffe in an 8 by 10 inch format bearing a studio stamp of Charles Eames; the photographs date from 1963 to 1973. and With the collection is one letter from Robert Jaffie to Thomas Needham, dated March 10, 1959, discussing a recent visit with O'Keeffe.
Description:
Alexander Girard (1907-1993), American designer, art collector., Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), American artist., Purchased from William Reese Co. on the Elizabeth Wakeman Dwight Memorial Fund, 2009., and Susan Needham Girard (1910-1996), American art collector.
Subject (Name):
Girard, Alexander, Girard, Susan Needham, 1910-1996, and O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986
Subject (Topic):
Artists--United States and Painters--United States
