Lydia Amanda Brewster Sewell Paintings

Lydia Amanda Brewster Sewell, often known as Lydia Field Emmet, was an American artist prominent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in New Rochelle, New York, on January 23, 1869, she was part of a family that valued and cultivated artistic talent. Lydia was the niece of the genre painter Henry Brewster Stanton and the sister of Rosina Emmet Sherwood, also an accomplished artist, which placed her in an environment conducive to her artistic development from a young age.

Lydia studied at various prestigious institutions, including the Art Students League of New York, where she learned from the likes of William Merritt Chase, a prominent figure in American Impressionism. She further honed her skills under the tutelage of Chase during summers at the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art on Long Island. Lydia also studied abroad, which was quite an achievement for women of her time, attending the Académie Julian in Paris, where she was influenced by the French academic style and Impressionism.

Her work was diverse and included portraits, landscapes, and murals. Lydia was particularly well-known for her portraits, which gained her significant acclaim. Her style was characterized by a blend of academic training with softer impressionistic touches, a combination that made her artwork very popular in her era. Lydia exhibited her work at various prestigious organizations, such as the National Academy of Design and the Paris Salon, where she received positive recognition and awards.

Throughout her career, Lydia also contributed to public art and illustration. She was commissioned to produce murals for the Women's Titanic Memorial in Washington, D.C., and executed illustrations for children's books and magazines. These ventures helped to solidify her reputation as a versatile and skilled artist.

Lydia's influence extended beyond her paintings. She was also an instructor at the Art Students League and later at the Cooper Union, where she inspired a new generation of artists. Her contributions to the arts were recognized in her lifetime, and she was a member of the National Academy of Design, an honor that marked her significant impact on the American art scene.

Lydia Field Emmet passed away on August 16, 1940, leaving behind a legacy of refined artistic achievement that captured the spirit and social fabric of her time. Her works continue to be appreciated for their beauty and historical value, providing insight into the artistic movements and cultural contexts of her era.