Retta Therese Matthews (1856 – 1899) was an American painter and sculptor.

Retta Therese Matthews
Born(1856-04-07)April 7, 1856
Arlington, Indiana
Died1899 (aged 42–43)
Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Known forPainting, Sculpture, Educator

Biography edit

Matthews was born on April 7, 1856, in Arlington, Indiana. She attended the Cincinnati Museum Association Art School from 1881 to 1884. She then taught art classes in the San Antonio, Texas public schools for several years, before moving to Paris to continue her art studies with M. Ingelbert.[1] After becoming ill she returned to Indiana in the early 1890s.[2]

She exhibited her work in the Indiana State Building and the Woman's Building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois.[3] Matthews also exhibited her work at the Ohio State Fair,[4] winning first prize in 1894 for one of her pieces.[2]

Matthews died in February 1899 in Indiana.[2]

Legacy edit

 
Indiana (c.1893), Indiana Statehouse Public Art Collection

Matthews' statue of "Indiana" created for the 1893 World's Exposition is now located in the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "IDOA: Indiana". In.gov. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Weidman, Jeffrey; Oberlin College Library (2000). Artists in Ohio, 1787-1900: A Biographical Dictionary. Kent State University Press. p. 582. ISBN 9780873386166.
  3. ^ a b Nichols, K. L. "Women's Art at the World's Columbian Fair & Exposition, Chicago 1893". Arcadiasystems.org. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. ^ Illinois. Dept. of Agriculture (1896). Transactions of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois with Reports from County Agricultural Societies for the Year, Volume 33. Illinois state journal Company.