Smarthistory, an online center for public art history, has chosen three Emma Stebbins sculptures to highlight the important work Stebbins accomplished during her lifetime. The video, with commentary from Dr. Karli Wurzelbacher, Chief Curator, The Heckscher Museum, and Dr. Steven Zucker of Smarthistory, was filmed during Heckscher’s first ever retrospective of Stebbins’s work, Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History.
The first video explores Industry and Commerce, two sculptures commissioned by Charles Heckscher, the uncle of the Museum’s founder. The sculptures are of a sailor and miner to represent the way the Heckscher family made its money. Stebbins was the first to work in neoclassical form, but representing a modern laborer through the clothing and tools that are part of the work.
The second feature highlights the bust of Charlotte Cushman done in 1870. Cushman was a famous actress in her time. She and Stebbins were lifelong romantic partners who lived in Rome from 1859 to 1870. The sculpture was publicly exhibited and was in the published biography of Cushman written by Stebbins herself. Lean more from the videos below.
With more than 800 contributors from hundreds of colleges, universities, museums, and research centers across the globe, Smarthistory is one of the most-visited art history resource in the world.