Woman Reading

Lloyd Goodrich's letter to Mr. Carl David dated May 4, 1982 references this painting as #53 in the Freeman's sale in 1939, at which time it was titled Girl in White Dress Sitting at Desk.   A photocopy of Mr. Goodrich's letter on the Whitney Museum of American Art's letterhead accompanies this painting. 

(1851-1938, American)  Susan Hannah Macdowell was the daughter of a well-known engraver from Philadelphia.  At the age of twenty five she met Thomas Eakins in 1875.  They were attending an exhibit at the Hazeltine Gallery, where Eakins’ iconic painting, The Gross Clinic was on display.  He was an instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Susan was determined to study with him after witnessing The Gross Clinic.  She spent the next six years studying with Eakins. An outstanding student, Susan was the winner of the Mary Smith prize in 1879 for the best painting by a matriculating woman artist.

 While her husband was alive, Susan painted infrequently.  Her main role was supporting her husband’s career, although both maintained separate studios in their home.

 After Mr. Eakins’ death, she rekindled her dedication to painting.  A citation in Wikipedia indicated that her style then became “warmer, looser and brighter in tone.”

 An exhibition titled Susan Macdowell Eakins was held at the Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia September 16 – December 9, 2001.  Thirty examples of Susan Eakins’ work from private and public collections were presented.  Below is a painting by Susan titled The Bibliophile, 1932, 20” X 24”.