History:
Sculptor Anne Whitney was born from a wealthy, liberal and Unitarian Boston family. She was a politically active figure who supported abolition and women equality. Her choices which reflected her social and political beliefs were black freedom, feminism and abolitionism.
Whitney experienced many difficulties and struggles with equality as a woman artist in a male-dominated field. Having been a sculptor for about twenty years, in 1875, she entered a national competition for a sculpture of the abolitionist Charles Sumner. Whitney won the commission, only to be denied the job when it was realized that she was a woman. Even though she was denied because of her gender, she still created the sculpture to show her resentment.
In 1859, she had begun to model sculptures. Her earliest work that was known is a portrait of a young girl, Laura Brown. She also sculpted members of her family which also included the painter Abby Adeline Manning, with whom Whitney is said to have had a "Boston marriage."
In 1866, like Hosmer and Lewis before her, Whitney went to Rome, seeking to broaden and improve her artistic skills.
Whitney experienced many difficulties and struggles with equality as a woman artist in a male-dominated field. Having been a sculptor for about twenty years, in 1875, she entered a national competition for a sculpture of the abolitionist Charles Sumner. Whitney won the commission, only to be denied the job when it was realized that she was a woman. Even though she was denied because of her gender, she still created the sculpture to show her resentment.
In 1859, she had begun to model sculptures. Her earliest work that was known is a portrait of a young girl, Laura Brown. She also sculpted members of her family which also included the painter Abby Adeline Manning, with whom Whitney is said to have had a "Boston marriage."
In 1866, like Hosmer and Lewis before her, Whitney went to Rome, seeking to broaden and improve her artistic skills.