Birgitta Kathleen Moran Farmer (May 23, 1881 – January 17, 1939)[1] was an American artist particularly known for her portrait miniatures.

Birgitta Moran Farmer
"Self Portrait". 1924. Watercolor on Ivory
Born
Birgitta Kathleen Moran

May 23, 1881
DiedJanuary 17, 1939 (aged 57)
Spouse(s)Dr. Patrick Farmer, 1913
Children4

Life edit

Birgitta Moran was born in Lyons, New York.[2] She attended Lyons Public School and graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Rochester, New York.[2] A graduate of the College of Fine Arts of Syracuse University and a member of Gamma Phi Beta's Alpha Chapter, she won the 1906 Hiram Gee Award in Painting at commencement.[3]

She used the award to study at Académie Julian and Académie de la Grande Chaumière Paris during 1906–1907.[4][5] Among other places, she roomed at the American Girls' Club in Paris.[4]

She married Dr. Thomas Patrick Farmer of Syracuse, New York in 1913.[6] They had four children.[2] She exhibited with the Brooklyn Society of Miniature Painters,[7] American Society of Miniature Painters,[8][9] the Pennsylvania Society of Miniature Painters,[10] the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, and the Associated Artists of Syracuse.[11] She died in 1939 in Syracuse, New York, of cancer, aged 57.[2]

Art edit

Farmer's work, including her 1924 self-portrait, was exhibited at the 24th and 25th Annual Exhibition of American Society of Miniature Painters[8][9] and the Pennsylvania Society of Miniature Painters's 38th Annual Exhibition.[10]

Her portraits of Briget Amelia Moran[12] (nee Fitzpatrick) titled "Mother" and of Anna V. Dunn titled "Mrs. Hugh Edward McSloy"[12] were exhibited at the 1921 Annual Water Colors and Miniature Exhibitions of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.[13][12]

Her portrait of her daughter "Anne"[12] was included in the 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress "Exhibition of Miniature Paintings by Living Artists",[14] The Metropolitan Museum of Art "Four Centuries of Miniature Painting",[15] and the Smithsonian American Art Museum National Collection of Fine Arts.[16]

Farmer is included in the National Portrait Gallery (United States) Catalog of American Portraits,[12] the National Portrait Gallery Library [17] and the Archives of American Art.[18]

Her art was often signed “B K Moran”, “Moran”, or “B M Farmer”.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ Biography, amazon.com. Accessed June 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Syracuse Post Standard January 15, 1939 Page 4
  3. ^ Bulletin of Syracuse University (April 1907), Page 132
  4. ^ a b Birgitta Moran Farmer Diary, entry 3 October 1906, owned by family
  5. ^ MacMillan Company, 1927, American Art Annual, Volume 24 ;Volume 26
  6. ^ The Lyons Republican (Friday, August 29, 1913), Page 7
  7. ^ The Art News, Vol. 22, no. 23. (1924). The Art News (1923-), 22(23), page 11. [1]
  8. ^ a b Twenty Fourth Annual Exhibition of the American Society of Miniature Painters New York February 6th-March 10th inclusive: M. Knoedler & Co., 1923. Thomas Watson Library accessed September 11, 2016 [2]
  9. ^ a b The Art News, Vol. 22, no. 16. (1924). The Art News (1923-), 22(16), page 1. [3]
  10. ^ a b The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts presents The Thirty-seventh Annual Philadelphia Water Color and Print Exhibition, and the Thirty-eight Annual Exhibition of Miniatures, by Philadelphia Water Color Club and the Pennsylvania Society of Miniature Painters, Oct 22-Nov 26, 1939, 2nd Edition.
  11. ^ The Art News, Vol. 21, no. 38. (1923). The Art News (1923-), 21(38), page 10. [4]
  12. ^ a b c d e f Smithonsian Collection Search Center accessed September 11, 2016
  13. ^ Annual Water Colors and Miniature Exhibitions Catalogue, by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1921, page 19. Accessed October 22, 2023 [5]
  14. ^ Catalog of an Exhibition of Miniature Paintings by Living Artists, A Century of Progress, General Exhibits Building, Graphic Arts Pavilion (Chicago World’s Fair) May 27- Oct 31, 1933, page 29. University of Chicago Library Accessed September 11, 2016. [6]
  15. ^ Four Centuries of Miniature Painting: A Special Exhibition, Including Loans from Museums and Private Collections and Examples from the Museum's Own Collection, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the American Society of Miniature Painters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 19 – March 19, 1950 page 15. Thomas Watson Library Accessed September 11, 2016 [7]
  16. ^ Smithsonian Institution, National Collection of Fine Arts, April 1950.
  17. ^ National Portrait Gallery Catalog of American Portraits File "Brigitta Moran Farmer (Mrs. Thomas P. Farmer)" N.B. Misspelled first name [8]
  18. ^ Archives of American Art: Anna Margaretta Archambault selected papers, [ca. 1880-1946] accessed June 2, 2018 [9]