Mary Ann Willson
Encyclopedia
Mary Ann Willson was an American
folk art
ist, known for her watercolors. She was unknown until 1943, when a portfolio
of her work was discovered by a gallery in New York. Today she is regarded alongside Eunice Pinney as one of the earliest American painters to work in the medium of watercolor.
The artist's name is known from an anonymous letter, written in 1850 and signed by "an admirer of art", which was found with the drawings. According to this, Willson moved to Greenville, New York
, around 1810, being accompanied by a Miss Brundage, or Brundidge. The two built a log cabin, and Brundage farmed the land. Willson painted pictures for nearby farmers; supposedly, her work was sold from Canada
to Mobile, Alabama
.
Stylistically, Willson's drawings are the work of an untrained hand; her subjects are taken from popular prints of the day, and are painted brightly in paints made from berry juice, vegetable dye
, or brick dust.
At Brundage's death, Willson is said to have been inconsolable, and disappeared not long after. Her last known work was completed in 1825; what became of her afterwards is unknown.
Willson's story served as the basis for Alma Routsong
's 1969 novel Patience and Sarah
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk art
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
ist, known for her watercolors. She was unknown until 1943, when a portfolio
Artist's portfolio
An artist's portfolio is an edited collection of artwork intended to showcase an artist's style or method of work. Many people can use portfolios. Freelancers, writers, photographers, models and graphic designers are just a few examples of people who use them...
of her work was discovered by a gallery in New York. Today she is regarded alongside Eunice Pinney as one of the earliest American painters to work in the medium of watercolor.
The artist's name is known from an anonymous letter, written in 1850 and signed by "an admirer of art", which was found with the drawings. According to this, Willson moved to Greenville, New York
Greenville, New York
Greenville is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New York:*Greenville, Orange County, New York*Greenville, Westchester County, New York*Greenville , New York, in Greene County**Greenville , New York, in the center of that town...
, around 1810, being accompanied by a Miss Brundage, or Brundidge. The two built a log cabin, and Brundage farmed the land. Willson painted pictures for nearby farmers; supposedly, her work was sold from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
Stylistically, Willson's drawings are the work of an untrained hand; her subjects are taken from popular prints of the day, and are painted brightly in paints made from berry juice, vegetable dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
, or brick dust.
At Brundage's death, Willson is said to have been inconsolable, and disappeared not long after. Her last known work was completed in 1825; what became of her afterwards is unknown.
Willson's story served as the basis for Alma Routsong
Alma Routsong
Alma Routsong was an American novelist best known for her lesbian fiction, published under the pen name Isabel Miller.-Biography:...
's 1969 novel Patience and Sarah
Patience and Sarah
Patience and Sarah is a 1969 historical fiction novel with strong lesbian themes by Alma Routsong, using the pen name Isabel Miller. It was originally self-published under the title A Place For Us and eventually found a publisher as Patience and Sarah in 1971.Routsong's novel is based on a...
.