Edmonia Lewis's Life: The Female Artist Who Changed Human Art Forever

Over the centuries, the art world has seen the birth of many iconic sculptors. From Michelangelo to Picasso, Donatello to Rodin, these artists have created some amazingly intricate, intricate works that have never been seen before. Some of the most famous sculptures in the world include Michelangelo's "David", Rodin's "The Thinker", Samothrace's "Nike" and "Venus de Milo". In addition to the undeniable beauty of these masterpieces, they are also said to have set a high standard for later artists.

One thing that most of these great historical artists have in common is that they are all men. This is not to say that only men can become great artists. However, it seems that it is only recently that we know more about the legendary female artists in history.

While there have been many talented female sculptors throughout history, there was one who broke stereotypical expectations of both gender and race at a time when America was in so much conflict with itself. Her name is Edmonia Lewis.

The first years of life

Image of sculptor Edmonia Lewis on postage stamps.

Edmonia Lewis's childhood years have always been shrouded in mystery. Her exact date of birth is not clearly remembered, as Edmonia claims to have been born in different years of her life. Some studies suggest that she was born in Upstate New York in 1844, although the exact date and month are unknown. Edmonia is of mixed blood because her father is African-American and her mother is a Native American of the Ojibwa tribe. Edmonia is said to have been orphaned at an early age and has been raised by her mother's tribe.

As an adult, Edmonia attended Oberlin College, and it was there that her talent for art and sculpture became much more evident. However, her time at Oberlin wasn't the best experience, as it almost cost her life. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, in 1862, Lewis was attacked by a white mob when she was accused of poisoning two of her schoolmates. She was severely beaten, but recovered and was eventually acquitted at trial.

Portrait of Edmonia Lewis in her younger days.

From Boston to Rome

After her early struggles, Edmonia moved to Boston, where she became acquainted with the sculptor Edward Brackett and the legendary abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. It was there that she began to really enter the world of commercial art.

Unlike other sculptors of the time, Edmonia Lewis had no formal training. Partly because she herself is a woman and is African-American. During this time period in America, sculptors were generally largely male and white. They are mostly those who are allowed to take classes on topics like anatomy. So Edmonia got to work, and had Tufts University sculptor Edward Brackett as his tutor.

President of Tufts University in the US.

After gaining some traction in the US, Edmonia decided to move to live and work in Rome, Italy. When she arrived in Rome in 1866, she befriended another American female sculptor named Harriet Hosmer, who supported Edmonia in her ambitions. At the time, she created some of the most famous sculptures of her career.

Edmonia decided to move to live and work in Rome, Italy.

Themes and inspirations

Every artist needs a theme as well as an inspiration to create art. Edmonia's early work revolved around sculptural portraits of famous abolitionists and supporters. According to Smithsonian Magazine, she began selling medals made of plaster and clay featuring images of Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison and John Brown.

Edmonia's first real financial and commercial success came in 1864. She created a bust of Colonel Robert Shaw, who was in charge of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

The first sculpture of Edmonia Lewis, Colonel Robert Shaw.

The bust sale was what allowed her to have enough money to move to Europe. During her career, Edmonia's works were often portraits and images of famous figures, or were in some way inspired by her legacy as an African-American woman and Native Americans.

The most famous sculpture

During her career, Edmonia created many fine sculptures. Her first bust of Colonel Robert Shaw helped to increase her popularity, and when she moved to Rome, Edmonia's talent really shined. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in 1867 she cast one of the most famous works of her career, entitled 'Forever Free'. The sculpture marked the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery in the country.

Sculpture 'Hagar' by Edmonia Lewis.

According to the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Edmonia created many other beautiful sculptures, including the 'Old Arrow Maker and His Daughter', 'Hagar in the Wild' and 'Hiawatha' at the Art Museum Metropolitan art.

Perhaps her most famous sculpture, however, is the 'Death of Cleopatra'. This work is more than 1.5 meters tall and weighs about 1,400 kg. Carved from white marble, the sculpture depicting the moment of Cleopatra's death was hand-carved by Edmonia. She shipped her work back to the US for display in the Centennial Exposition of 1876. Although the statue met with slightly mixed reviews due to the 'graphical nature' of the subject, it was given a special treat. location in the Memorial, dedicated to American artists.

Edmonia's most famous sculpture - 'Death of Cleopatra'.

The next generation and the legacy left

Although Edmonia Lewis is recognized as one of history's first professional black sculptors, many details about Edmonia's life remain unknown. The second half of her life seems to have been spent in Europe, continuing to spend her time creating other sharp works of art. According to ThoughtCo, she completed her last sculpture in 1883 and is said to have been visited by Fredrick Douglass while she was living in Rome.

Although Edmonia created some wonderful sculptures, unfortunately many of them have been lost over time. Some of her surviving works, such as 'Death of Cleopatra', 'Hagar' and 'Forever Free' have found their home in places like the Smithsonian Institution and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Sculpture 'Forever Free' by Edmonia Lewis.

As with the historical record for the rest of Edmonia's life, the details surrounding her death are fuzzy, as the date of her death is recorded in different years. However, recent research indicates that Edmonia died on September 17, 1907. According to the New York Post, she was initially buried in an unmarked grave and was finally excavated in 2012, at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery in London, England. Edmonia now has a proper stele, commemorating the sculptor.