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Emma Stebbins

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Emma Stebbins

Birth
Death
25 Oct 1882 (aged 67)
Burial
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 076, Lot 104
Memorial ID
View Source
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from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Stebbins
Career: Born and raised in a wealthy New York family, Stebbins was encouraged by her family in her pursuit of art from an early age. In 1857, sponsored by her brother Col. Henry G. Stebbins, head of the New York Stock Exchange, she moved to Rome where she studied under John Gibson an English neoclassicist working there at that time. In Rome she fell in love with actress Charlotte Saunders Cushman, and quickly became involved in the bohemian and feminist lesbian lifestyle, which was more tolerated there than it would have been back in New York. [1]
Cushman was confidant, strong, and charismatic, and recently recovering from a break up following a ten-year relationship with the actress Matilda Hays. Cushman and Stebbins began travelling together, immediately taking a trip to Naples. Upon their return, they began spending time in a circle of fellow lesbians that included sculptor Harriet Hosmer and African American/Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis/Mary Lewis. In this environment, the women flourished without regard for showing outward affection for one another. [2]
One of Stebbins' early commissions was a portrait bust of Cushman between 1859-1860. In 1869, Cushman was treated for breast cancer. Stebbins devoted all her time during that ordeal to nursing her lover, ignoring her work during the next two years. The following year, the couple returned to the United States. Cushman died of pneomonia in 1876 at the age of 59. Following the death of Cushman, Stebbins never produced another sculpture. She released the correspondence, Charlotte Cushman: Her Letters and Memories of Her Life in 1878. Stebbins died in New York in 1882, at the age of 67. [3]

Works: Stebbins best known work is the Angel of the Waters, 1873,also known as Bethesda Founrtain, located on the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, New York. According to Central Park historian Sara Cedar Miller, Emma Stebbins received the commission for the sculpture as a result of influence from her brother Henry, who at the time was president of the Central Park Board of Commissioners. Henry was proud of his sister's talent and hoped to have many examples of her art in Central Park.
'Angel of the Waters, created to celebrate the clean healthful water from New York's Croton Aqueduct, completed in 1842, with an oblique reference to the biblical "healing waters of Bethesda". The fountain complex is widely considered to be one of the great works of nineteenth century American sculpture.
Her bronze statue of educator Horace Mann was installed outside the State House in Boston in 1865.
Emma Stebbins is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, New York.
References: Opitz, Glenn B , Editor, Mantle Fielding's Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers, Apollo Book, Poughkeepsie NY, 1986
Rubenstein, Charlotte Streifer, American Women Sculptors, G.K. Hall & Co., Boston 1990
I do not believe that I am a relative of this person. If you are and/or have additional information that you would like me to add to this memorial, please email me and I'll gladly add it for you. Thank you.

from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Stebbins
Career: Born and raised in a wealthy New York family, Stebbins was encouraged by her family in her pursuit of art from an early age. In 1857, sponsored by her brother Col. Henry G. Stebbins, head of the New York Stock Exchange, she moved to Rome where she studied under John Gibson an English neoclassicist working there at that time. In Rome she fell in love with actress Charlotte Saunders Cushman, and quickly became involved in the bohemian and feminist lesbian lifestyle, which was more tolerated there than it would have been back in New York. [1]
Cushman was confidant, strong, and charismatic, and recently recovering from a break up following a ten-year relationship with the actress Matilda Hays. Cushman and Stebbins began travelling together, immediately taking a trip to Naples. Upon their return, they began spending time in a circle of fellow lesbians that included sculptor Harriet Hosmer and African American/Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis/Mary Lewis. In this environment, the women flourished without regard for showing outward affection for one another. [2]
One of Stebbins' early commissions was a portrait bust of Cushman between 1859-1860. In 1869, Cushman was treated for breast cancer. Stebbins devoted all her time during that ordeal to nursing her lover, ignoring her work during the next two years. The following year, the couple returned to the United States. Cushman died of pneomonia in 1876 at the age of 59. Following the death of Cushman, Stebbins never produced another sculpture. She released the correspondence, Charlotte Cushman: Her Letters and Memories of Her Life in 1878. Stebbins died in New York in 1882, at the age of 67. [3]

Works: Stebbins best known work is the Angel of the Waters, 1873,also known as Bethesda Founrtain, located on the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, New York. According to Central Park historian Sara Cedar Miller, Emma Stebbins received the commission for the sculpture as a result of influence from her brother Henry, who at the time was president of the Central Park Board of Commissioners. Henry was proud of his sister's talent and hoped to have many examples of her art in Central Park.
'Angel of the Waters, created to celebrate the clean healthful water from New York's Croton Aqueduct, completed in 1842, with an oblique reference to the biblical "healing waters of Bethesda". The fountain complex is widely considered to be one of the great works of nineteenth century American sculpture.
Her bronze statue of educator Horace Mann was installed outside the State House in Boston in 1865.
Emma Stebbins is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, New York.
References: Opitz, Glenn B , Editor, Mantle Fielding's Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers, Apollo Book, Poughkeepsie NY, 1986
Rubenstein, Charlotte Streifer, American Women Sculptors, G.K. Hall & Co., Boston 1990


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  • Created by: knrivers
  • Added: Jun 19, 2007
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19986094/emma-stebbins: accessed ), memorial page for Emma Stebbins (1 Sep 1815–25 Oct 1882), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19986094, citing Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA; Maintained by knrivers (contributor 46809186).