MADRON

Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, 1872 - 1955)

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Vonnoh moved with her family to Chicago where at age twenty one, she studied under Leonardo Taft at the Art Institute of Chicago. Vonnoh was one of the female assistants to Taft - a group nicknamed the "White Rabbits”, assisting with large-scale pieces at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair Exhibition.

At the World's Fair, she was much influenced by the small bronze figures of Russian sculptor Paul Troubetzkoy, and after the Fair, she began doing her own small bronze figures, which became very popular and helped lead the small bronze movement in America.

Vonnoh is known for her depictions of graceful, serene, female figures with gently sweeping garments.