Full-length portrait of Edmonia Lewis; a black woman wearing a dress with large dark-colored shawl drapped over her left shoulder. She is seated on a tassled chair, with her left hand resting on the chair, and the right hand on her legs.  Her face is slightly angled away from the camera, and her eyes are looking into the camera

E. Lewis. Sculptor.  Creation: 1870-1879. Photographer: Rocher, H. (Henry). Collection: Cartes de visite.  Photographs and Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Edmonia Lewis

Transcript below

Edmonia Lewis

Professional African-American sculptor. Born in New York, orphan at age 12, and raised by her mother’s family. Attended Oberlin College in Ohio in 1859 with the financial support of her brother. In 1863, with the support of her brother, moved to Boston, met and worked under the portrait sculptor Edward Brackett. Produced medallion portraits of well-known abolitionists (e.g., John Brown). With sales of her portraits, sailed to Rome in 1865

 

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Many thanks to the speaker Linden D Anderson from the Schomburg Center

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