Maria R. Dixon (d. 1896) was an American painter active in the late 19th century.[1] Dixon mostly painted genre paintings and portraits, and also did many drawings for illustrated journals.

Maria R. Dixon
Picture of Maria R. Dixon, from Essays on American art and artists, Eastern Art League, 1896.
EducationArt Students League under Charles Yardley Turner

Life and career edit

Dixon did much of her work in New York, exhibiting with the Women's Art Club of New York. Dixon also worked under Charles Yardley Turner, who also did Genre paintings along with historical scenes.[2]

Dixon often signed her paintings as M. R. Dixon, leaving out her first name to avoid sexism in the arts. This was common for women to do at the time.[1] Dixon also primarily painted women in her genre paintings and portraits and often used her daughter as a model.[3]

Essays on American Art and Artists mentions her several times, showing photos of her paintings along with her illustrations. Dixon was praised for her paintings of female figures and her skills in portraiture.[3] Most of her Genre paintings depict women doing everyday activities like playing with cats or eating grapes, although she was also admired for her more dramatic and moving paintings, such as Into Each Life some Rain Must Fall.[4]

Dixon died in 1896.[4]

Dixon has work in the Huntsville Museum of Art,[5] National Museum of Women in the Arts[6] and Wilson College, where Dixon did a portrait of Sarah Wilson, who the college is named after.[2]

Selected works edit

  • Idle Hours, n.d. [3]
  • Disturbing the Peace, n.d.[3]
  • An Interesting Moment, n.d.[3]
  • Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, n.d. 17 x 21 in. [4]
  • A Quiet Moment, 1896; Oil on canvas, 18 x 14 in. National Museum of Women in the Arts.[6]
  • The Student, n.d. oil on canvas, 24 x 18 in. Huntsville Museum of Art.[5]
  • Portrait of Sarah Wilson. n.d. Oil on canvas. Wilson College.[2]
  • Portrait of Girl Eating Grapes, n.d. Oil on canvas. 35 x 25 in.[7]

Gallery edit

 
Maria R. Dixon. Idle Hours. n.d. Photo of painting.
[3]
 
Maria. R Dixon. Disturbing the Peace. n.d. Photo of a Painting.
[3]
 
Maria R. Dixon, An Interesting Moment, n.d. Photo of a Painting.
[3]
 
Maria R. Dixon, Into Each Life some Rain Must Fall. n.d. Photo of a drawing.
[3]


References edit

  1. ^ a b Sternberg, Paul (1991). Art by American Women: Selections from the collection of Louise and Alan Sellers. Gainsville, Georgia: Brenau College. p. 37.
  2. ^ a b c Rupinski, Leigh (2015). "Restoring History". Wilson Magazine (Fall 2015): 39 – via Issuu.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hopkinson Smith, F. (1896). Essays on American Art and Artists. Temple Court, New York: Eastern Art League. pp. 113, 114, 173, 175, 205, 207, 210, 248.
  4. ^ a b c Catalogue of the Private Art Collection of Thomas B. Clarke (PDF). Part I. Paintings. New York City: The American Art Association. 1899. p. 46.
  5. ^ a b "Rebels With a Cause: American Impressionist Women from the Huntsville Museum of Art. Traveling Exhibition Checklist" (PDF). The Huntsville Museum of Art. p. 9.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b "National Museum of Women in the Arts Annual Report". National Museum of Women in the Arts. 2019. p. 9. Retrieved April 19, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Lot 164: Maria R. Dixon Portrait of Girl Eating Grapes". Invaluable. August 22, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2024.